The Art Work of Louis C. Tiffany

Cover of The Art work of Louis C. Tiffany
Adoption Amount: $2,100
Category: Preserve for the Future
Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Library

The Art work of Louis C. Tiffany

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page, & Company, 1914.

Dedicated to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s children, this biographical account features painted portraits and landscapes completed as Tiffany traveled the world. It includes design drawings and photographs relating to every aspect of his artistic career from stained glass and jewelry to glass vessels and textiles. The cover’s unique embossed squares visually allude to the celebrated designer’s work in metal. This copy is inscribed by Tiffany “To the Misses Hewitt: I take great pleasure in sending you my book as you and all of your family have done so much for art.” He signed it as such in honor of the Hewitt sisters who founded the museum in 1897.

Condition and Treatment: 

This is an early-20th century limited-edition volume signed by Louis C. Tiffany. The cover is embossed gilt paper board. The text is interspersed by tipped-in printed color plates. The front gutter margin is cracked. Two sections have broken sewing and are detaching. The slipcase enclosure is not acid-free.  Conservators will repair the broken front gutter. The sewing will be repaired. An acid-free custom enclosure will be created to house this valuable item.

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