Tiffany: America's Premier Luxury House Since 1837
Tiffany & Co., founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany in New York City in 1837, is America's most iconic luxury goods firm. Beginning as a stationery and fancy goods store, the company evolved under Charles Lewis Tiffany into the nation's leading jeweler, silversmith, and purveyor of fine decorative arts. His son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, established Tiffany Studios, creating the legendary art glass, lamps, and decorative objects that represent a separate but related collecting category. The Tiffany name spans jewelry, sterling silver, art glass, pottery, enamels, and desk accessories, each with its own collecting community and market dynamics.
Identification & Marks
Tiffany & Co. silver bears "TIFFANY & CO." with "STERLING SILVER" or silver content marks, pattern numbers, and often order/lot numbers. Jewelry carries "TIFFANY & CO." with metal purity marks (750 for 18K, 950 for platinum). Tiffany Studios items (glass, lamps, desk sets) bear "TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK" with model numbers. Earlier Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company pieces (pre-1902) use that firm name. Tiffany Furnaces items carry distinct markings. Each division used specific numbering systems that help date and identify production periods.
Major Collecting Categories
- Jewelry: Diamonds, colored gemstones, and designer pieces by Jean Schlumberger, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, and Angela Cummings
- Sterling Silver: Flatware patterns (Chrysanthemum, Audubon, Olympian, Lap Over Edge), hollowware, and presentation pieces
- Art Glass: Favrile glass vases, bowls, and decorative objects from Tiffany Studios
- Lamps: Leaded glass and blown glass table lamps, floor lamps, and chandeliers
- Desk Accessories: Bronze desk sets in patterns like Zodiac, Venetian, Pine Needle, and Grapevine
- Pottery: Tiffany Studios pottery with molded organic designs in matte glazes
- Enamels: Copper-bodied enameled vases and decorative objects
- Clocks: Mantel and desk clocks in bronze, silver, and enamel
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Favrile glass small vases | $200 - $1,000 |
| Favrile glass important vases | $2,000 - $50,000+ |
| Table lamps (geometric shades) | $5,000 - $50,000 |
| Table lamps (floral, Dragonfly, Wisteria) | $50,000 - $3,000,000+ |
| Sterling flatware (per place setting) | $200 - $800 |
| Sterling hollowware (important) | $1,000 - $100,000+ |
| Desk set pieces (individual) | $100 - $1,000 |
| Complete desk sets | $2,000 - $15,000 |
| Schlumberger jewelry pieces | $2,000 - $500,000+ |
| Tiffany pottery vases | $1,000 - $20,000 |
Condition Factors
Glass should be free of chips, scratches, and cloudiness. Lamp shades must retain all original glass panels; missing or replaced panels reduce value significantly. Bronze lamp bases should show original patina; stripped or re-patinated bases lose value. Sterling silver benefits from original patina rather than heavy polishing. Jewelry should retain original settings and stones; modifications or later alterations reduce value. Desk accessories should maintain original finish with expected wear. Enamel items are assessed for chips, cracks, and color retention.
Collecting Tips
The Tiffany market is highly stratified; knowing which division and period you are collecting is essential. Tiffany Studios lamps remain the ultimate blue-chip decorative arts collectible, with record prices exceeding $3 million. Silver flatware in desirable patterns (Chrysanthemum, Olympian) holds value and remains usable. Favrile glass offers a wide range of entry points, from modest paperweight vases to museum-quality exhibition pieces. Authentication is critical, as the Tiffany name invites forgery. Study marks carefully and purchase from reputable sources. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum in Winter Park, Florida, holds the world's most comprehensive Tiffany collection for reference.