Queen Anne's Lace Hair Ornament

Louis C. Tiffany|Louis C. Tiffany

1904 · Silver, copper, opals, demantoid garnets, garnets, and enamel · The American Wing

Tiffany exhibited three Queen Anne's lace ornaments representing various stages of bloom at the Saint Louis Exposition in 1904. This hair ornament-composed of delicate silver wires bearing tiny opals, demantoid garnets, garnets, and enamel florets-shows the flower in full bloom. Leaves of silver covered in translucent green enamel and copper painted green, visible on the under-side of the piece, increase the impression of naturalism. Whereas jewelry typically made at his father's firm, Tiffany and Company, tended to replicate more formal flowers, such as orchids and irises, and utilized primarily precious stones, Tiffany's use of a common wildflower and semi-precious stones aligns this work with avant-garde Parisian jewelers of the Art Nouveau.

Artist

Louis C. Tiffany|Louis C. Tiffany

Date

1904

Medium

Silver, copper, opals, demantoid garnets, garnets, and enamel

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Purchase, Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Gift, 2001