Tiffany Studios New York Five-light "Prism" Chandelier
This exquisite Tiffany Studios “Prism” chandelier, features five shades comprised of iridescent gold glass "Prisms" suspended from intricately sculpted bronze heat cap. Each prism shimmers with great transparency, mesmerizing with its iridescence and chains with alternating chain links and bronze spheres highlighting each chain. Tiffany wrote extensively on the prismatic color theory in the Scientific American— his conceptual understanding derived from Isaac Newton’s book “Optics.” Newton famously proved that white light consisted of a miscellany of colors using his prism experiment. Late nineteenth-century publications suggested that amateur scientists use chandelier prisms to try Newton’s experiment at home. As a man of the modern age, Tiffany believed that science and art must cofunction for the greatest effect.
Item #: L-21482
Artist: Tiffany Studios New York
Country: United States
Circa: 1910
Dimensions: 34" height, 16" diameter
Materials: Bronze, Glass
Literature: Duncan, Alastair, and Tiffany Studios (New York, N.Y.). 2007. Tiffany Lamps and Metalware : An Illustrated Reference to over 2000 Models. 1st ed. Woodbridge: Antique Collector’s Club. p. 268 no. 1038
Item #: L-21482
Artist: Tiffany Studios New York
Country: United States
Circa: 1910
Dimensions: 34" height, 16" diameter
Materials: Bronze, Glass
Literature: Duncan, Alastair, and Tiffany Studios (New York, N.Y.). 2007. Tiffany Lamps and Metalware : An Illustrated Reference to over 2000 Models. 1st ed. Woodbridge: Antique Collector’s Club. p. 268 no. 1038
Tiffany’s Moorish chandeliers were inspired by the Egyptian Fanous lantern. Hung on streets and homes during Ramadan, the Fanous spread across the Islamic world. The tradition began when Pharaohs would light torches to celebrate the birthdays of the gods. In an account of his experience of Ramadan in Morroco, Walter B. Harris (1895) wrote "It was a warm moonlight night and we pitched the big Moorish tent amongst the trees of an olive grove and hung it with colored lanterns [fanous.] Coming in a variety of colors, Tiffany gravitated to orange, red, and amber as it evoked the burning sands and dimly lit inns of Marrakesh.
Tiffany’s Moorish chandeliers were inspired by the Egyptian Fanous lantern. Hung on streets and homes during Ramadan, the Fanous spread across the Islamic world. The tradition began when Pharaohs would light torches to celebrate the birthdays of the gods. In an account of his experience of Ramadan in Morroco, Walter B. Harris (1895) wrote "It was a warm moonlight night and we pitched the big Moorish tent amongst the trees of an olive grove and hung it with colored lanterns [fanous.] Coming in a variety of colors, Tiffany gravitated to orange, red, and amber as it evoked the burning sands and dimly lit inns of Marrakesh.
