The Tiffany Silver Show

The silversmiths of Tiffany & Company have been commissioned by heads of state to commemorate historic events, by sporting clubs to honor world champions and by grandparents to welcome their newest family members.
The range of Tiffany craftsmanship, from huge yachting trophies to tiny mugs for children, is illustrated in "A Celebrated Tradition: the Silver of Tiffany" at the Center for the Study of Decorative Arts.
The exhibit's 30 pieces are organized around five themes: birth, marriage, sport, special events or achievements and political milestones. Several objects are historically significant, while others are impressive for their elegance or complicated designs.
The century-old Pueblo Bowl, for example, takes the form of a Pueblo water basket and is inlaid with niello and copper stripes. It was commissioned for the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
A piece with more recent political significance is a replica of the Philadelphia Bowl, which President Ronald Reagan presented to Mikhail S. Gorbachev of the Soviet Union in 1987. Inscribed in English and Russian, the bowl commemorates the leaders' first meeting in the United States. The bowl got its name because it is characteristic of silver produced in Philadelphia 200 years ago.
All the pieces in the show were formed, etched, engraved and hand-chased by Tiffany silversmiths using the same dies and tools and following techniques that have remained unchanged for generations.

TIFFANY & CO. Elsa Peretti Full Heart earrings

TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany 1837 Bar drop earrings

TIFFANY & CO.Tiffany 1837 Triple bar pendant

Wednesday, November 18, 2009