Balustrade, portion from the third floor stairwell of the Henry O. Havemeyer house, New York
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Description
March 28, 2009
This segment of balustrade comes from the “flying staircase” in the Havemeyer house, which was suspended by cables from the ceiling. The balustrade fragment underscores how Tiffany combined exquisite elements, such as the white glass “commas” or paisleys, with pre-fabricated, machine-made supports. The mastery of materials, however, is consummate and the effect remains sumptuous. The flying staircase was known not just for its visual beauty but for another aspect—its aural quality. The glass commas are set loosely in the metal framework so that a faint tinkling sound would be produced when someone walked on the stairs.
Subject Matter:
One of the aspects of this work (and with several other Havemeyer pieces) was the integration of handmade deluxe components with prefabricated, machine-made elements. The glass "commas" are set in a metal armature that includes manufactured components.
Physical Description:
Gilt metal balustrade fragment from staircase in Havemeyer house. Vertical rods alternate with S-shaped metal design with milky opalescent "commas" in the "S". These alternating elements are held together with soft metal joins; the glass pieces are set loosely in their metal mounts.
Usage Rights:
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