Tiffany & Co. (1837–present). Pitcher (detail), 1878. Silver, copper, brass, gold-silver alloy, and copper-gold alloy, H. 9 in. (22.9 cm). Private collection, New York
Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co. The exhibition ‘Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.’ features more than 180 extraordinary examples from Edward C. Moore’s personal collection, which he bequeathed to the Museum, alongside 70 magnificent silver objects designed at Tiffany & Co. under his direction. July 13 – October 4, 2020.]]>
Source: The Met Fifth Avenue
Edward C. Moore (1827–1891)—the creative force who led Tiffany & Co. to unparalleled originality and success during the second half of the 19th century—amassed a vast collection of decorative arts of exceptional quality and in various media, from Greek and Roman glass and Japanese baskets to metalwork from the Islamic world. The objects were a source of inspiration for Moore, a noted silversmith in his own right, and the designers he supervised.
Drawn primarily from the holdings of The Met, the display also includes seldom seen examples from a dozen private and public lenders. A defining figure in the history of American silver, Moore played a pivotal role in shaping the legendary Tiffany design aesthetic and the evolution of The Met.
The exhibition positions Tiffany & Co. works near relevant groupings of objects that Moore collected. Among the highlights of the exhibition are the world-famous Bryant Vase (1876), which incorporates classical Greek, Renaissance Revival, and Aesthetic movement elements, and a recently acquired silver, copper, gold, and silver-copper-zinc alloy vase (1879) that draws technical and aesthetic inspiration from Japanese ceramics, lacquerware, and metalwork.
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