Publisher's Synopsis
Alastair Duncan, the world-renowned authority on Louis C. Tiffany, has produced the definitive work on America's premier artist-designer, examining every facet of Tiffany's unrivalled achievements in a lifetime consecrated, in his own words, to 'The Quest of Beauty'. As Tiffany's wares have continued to rise in popularity since their resurgence in the 1950s, many collectors have focused on different aspects of Tiffany's work. Only Takeo Horiuchi, however, has built a comprehensive collection of masterworks in every artistic discipline to which Tiffany applied himself.
This book, based on the superlative Louis C. Tiffany Garden Museum Collection formed by Mr. Horiuchi, presents a unique overview of every aspect of Tiffany's talent. For the first time it is possible to see the full range of Louis C. Tiffany's creativity from his famous lamps and windows to his lesser-known paintings and furniture. Every piece in the collection is reproduced in colour, often complemented by extracts from contemporary art revues and the Tiffany firm's sales catalogues, advertisements and price lists, with photographs of their original domestic settings, in the firm's showrooms or international expositions at which they made their debuts. Tiffany's workshops are also illustrated, as well as the logbook entries of its artisans and annotated sketches of its designers.
This wealth of illustrative material is accompanied by the author's detailed and evocative descriptions of the workshops, materials, manufacturing processes, the rich and famous who patronised Tiffany, their commissions, and the colourful personalities of the team of artist-craftsmen with whom Tiffany surrounded himself. This book is a true testament to his extraordinary talent.
