Thanks to the detective work of Margaret K. Hofer and others, we now know what Louis Comfort Tiffany knew: that many of the spectacular leaded glass lamps that came out of the Tiffany Studio in New York City after 1898 were designed by Clara Pierce Wolcott Driscoll (1861-1944). 
We also know that Tiffany covered up that fact - at least in his native country. Driscoll won a prize for her designs at the International Exposition at Paris in 1900. But with the lacunae of long distance communications of a century ago, it was easy to forget what was inconvenient to to remember.
Tiffany acknowledged Driscoll's work in Paris but never contradicted those who credited him with the work back home in New York.
Tiffany acknowledged Driscoll's work in Paris but never contradicted those who credited him with the work back home in New York.On December 8th, Christies, Ltd. will hold an auction of the Gluck Collection of works from the Tiffany Studio at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Several lucky bidders will take home these Clara Driscoll lamps .
Photo of Clara Driscoll, from the New York Times. All others, from Christies.com.
4 comments:
I'm not a huge fan of Tiffany style lamps, but these are quite beautiful, especially the two green ones. Perhaps the way they're photographed - lit, against a black background - makes the difference? The effect is exquisite.
I had no idea that Driscoll designed many of them, but I suppose that's not unexpected. It's always sad to read about so many anonymous artists whose designs had the company name stamped on their work instead of their own names.
Aida, it now appears that Driscoll designed some of Tiffany's best lamps. Certainly, the 'dragonfly' has always been regarded as a masterpiece. I think these designs share a definition in design that makes them easier to look at - not quite so busy, perhaps? What's amusing, if you like, is the way such revelations undermine the male stories of 'genius' and 'orginiality.' The work really can stand on its own.
Yes! You've hit it on the head - Driscoll's are not so busy. The designs are very 'tight' and defined.
You're exactly right about the myth of male originality being eroded. Not to say men can't be creative geniuses, but women most certainly can be as well, as we know! A few male artists I've read about were very encouraging to female artists within their medium. The Group of Seven tirelessly promoted and encouraged Emily Carr and she was basically an honourary member.
In the field of fiction writing, when I read Mary Renault's authorized biography I was fascinated to learn that Tolkien (who was one of her professors at Oxford in the 1920's) gave enormous support to his female students. He recognized that female writers struggled to get published and be recognized, so he gave them extra tutoring at his home, promoted their work and encouraged them to publish under their own names not male pseudonyms. Since he was married, no chaperone was needed for tutoring. His encouragement made an enormous difference for Renault and others. As she's one of my favourite authors, it was heartwarming to read that. I'm still not a Tolkien fan (his fiction, I mean) but I have a new found respect for him.
Hi, just in case of interest, I have a video from an exhibition that took place in NL - many lamps there attributed to Clara Driscoll :
http://vimeo.com/8934324
kind regards, Elie
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