Tiffany. Dream in the Blue Box

Part Two

In 1878, at L’Exposition universelle de Paris, Tiffany & Co. received top honors for silverware and jewelry, and Charles Tiffany was awarded with Medal of a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur, and finally secured the status of legislator of the world fashion jewelry.

Charles Lewis Tiffany.

In the same year, Charles Tiffany purchased diamond “Tiffany” for $18,000. One of the world’s largest and rarest yellow raw diamonds was cut into an excellent 128.54-carat stone. In 1879, Dr. George Frederick Kunz, hired by Charles Tiffany, led and oversaw the cutting process of the raw stone. In the future, Dr. George Frederick Kunz was Chief Mineralogist at Tiffany & Co. for a long time.

Tiffany Diamond

All public contracts in the field of minting and engraving went to Tiffany & Co. In 1885, after the Secretary of State had revealed some errors in the image of the eagle on the great seal of the United States (incorrect position of claws, in which there was a mistaken number of arrows), jewelers of the company were tasked to modify the seal of the United States. Today you can see the design, proposed by Tiffany & Co., on the reverse side of the American one-dollar banknote.

One Dollar Bill

To dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886, the company got an order to produce an engraved base for invitation cards.

Invitations to the celebration in honor of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty.

In the same year, Charles Tiffany made a real breakthrough in the world of jewelry; he created a new design for the engagement rings, which soon became the dream of every girl. In the ring, the diamond was set with six fasteners, between which there were gaps and light made the stone play brilliantly, by penetrating through the edges from all sides. That design got the title of “The Tiffany® Setting” and was one of the world’s most popular designs of engagement rings. The jeweled masterpiece was the product out of time.

The Tiffany® Setting

In 1887, at auction, Charles Tiffany purchased a large part of the French Crown jewels, including a necklace of Empress Eugenia, with lots of diamonds and unique stones. The jewelry had been exhibited in a shop window of Tiffany, Palace of Jewels, at Union Square, and then went on sale. The annual turnover of the Tiffany & Co. on transactions with precious stones was about forty million dollars, for that the name “King of Diamonds” was assigned to Tiffany.

Tiffany store at Union Square, New York.

Having finished studying at the workshop of Tiffany & Co., under leadership of the Chief Designer Edward Moore, master of designer’s jewelry Paulding Farnham started to create his masterpieces. For the Paris Exposition of 1889, Farnham created 24 orchids of natural size. The collection got a gold medal. Made with botanical accuracy, life-sized orchids were so popular that Tiffany increased the variety of models up to 41 in the spring of 1890.

Orchid Brooch. Gold, enamel, diamonds. Tiffany & Co., designed by Paulding Farnham.
Sotheby’s New York

In 1896, Farnham developed Jockey Cup commissioned by August Belmont with acorn-shaped body.

Jockey Cup commissioned by August Belmont. Tiffany & Co., designed by Paulding Farnham.

Son of Charles Tiffany, a talented artist and the greatest connoisseur of stained glass art, Louis Comfort Tiffany created a separate firm “Tiffany Glass Company” in 1885. The workshop made stained glasses, vases, pottery, and mosaic. During the period of Modernism, they produced jewelry with the use of colored glass and enamels.

“With glass, gemstones and enamel as his primary tools, Louis Comfort Tiffany celebrated nature and the art of exotic cultures. ” Tiffany & Co. Tiffany & Co.

The greatest Paris Exhibition 1900 was yet another of the many victories for Tiffany & Co. Silverware, jewelry, gems, taking into account their quality and craftsmanship get top prizes. The Iris, specially created by Farnham, got the highest award and was sold to the American collector Henry Walters during the exhibition.

The Paulding’s “Iris”, is exhibited at The Walters Art Museum. Walters Art Museum.

By doing business of the company for all his life, Charles Lewis Tiffany met the new century actively and passed away at the age of 90 years old on February 18, 1902. With the Charles Lewis Tiffany’s name of Diamond King, people associated the whole era of luxurious jewelry factory. During his rule, the company “Tiffany & Co.” acquired the status of the Imperial and Royal Jewelry House, supplying the royal jewels to aristocratic families of many European powers, to the Russian Imperial Court, to Ottoman Sultan and Shah of Iran, to the wives of the Presidents of America, to the representatives of famous families – the Morgans, the Astors, the Vanderbilts.

Charles Lewis Tiffany with grandchildren, 1888.

By continuing the traditions of the great jeweler, artisans of Lobortas create new unique works in the field of jewelry and applied arts that are a model of good taste and elegance, luxury and sophistication.