Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co. During his youth, his main interest was painting. Tiffany studied under the American painters George Inness and Samuel Colman, as well as studying painting in Paris. In 1894, Tiffany trademarked Favrile, a type of iridescent glass.
This effect was obtained by mixing different colors of glass together while still hot. Tiffany's first commercially produced lamps date from about 1895. Much of his company's production was in making stained glass windows and what we understand as "Tiffany lamps" today. But his company also designed a complete range of interior decorations. At its peak, his factory employed more than 300 artisans.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, Vase, 1901-1905, Courtesy of The Newark Museum
