Dragonflies and Water Flowers

“This Dragonfly lamp is an idea that I had last summer and which Alice [Gouvy] worked out on a plaster mould. . . After she had made the drawing on this plaster mould I took it in hand and we worked and worked on it till the cost built up at such a rate that they had to mark it $250.00 when it was finished and everybody, even Mr. Belknap, thought it was impractical on account of the cost, but. . . then Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Belknap said—It is very original and makes talk, so perhaps it is not a bad investment. Then Mr. Tiffany got wind and came down and said it was the most interesting lamp in the place and then a rich woman bought it and then Mr. Tiffany said she couldn’t have it, he wanted it to go to London and have another one made for her and one to go to Paris.” –Clara Driscoll, head of the Women’s Glass Cutting Department at Tiffany Studios (April 6, 1899) Under Louis C. Tiffany’s leadership, hundreds of artists and artisans turned his expansive vision into an assortment of decorative objects and complete interior designs. Clara Driscoll worked on and off for Tiffany from 1888 to about 1909. She created mosaic lamp bases, small boxes, inkstands, clocks, and some of Tiffany’s most famous leaded glass lampshade designs. This Dragonfly lamp is likely the one Tiffany sent to London. It was purchased by a collector and remained in England until 1970, when the New York antiques dealer and Tiffany expert Lillian Nassau (American, 1899–1995) bought it at auction. In 1971, Nassau sold the lamp to an American collector, whose heirs later sold it back to Nassau’s gallery. It was purchased by the Museum in 2013. Over the years, bases and shades from Tiffany lamps often become separated and may be rejoined with parts from different lamps. This lamp is a significant example of an original shade and base that remained together throughout its history.