+Tiffany & Co. 1893 Art Nouveau Desk Oil Lamp In Sterling Silver With Roman Coin

Desk oil lamp designed by Charles L. Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.

Beautiful desk oil lamp or cigar lighter, created in New York at the Tiffany Studios during the art nouveau period, back in the 1893. This very rare round oil lamp, was realized under the directory period of Charles L. Tiffany (1891-1902) in repousse silver. The design have influences of Roman Revival styles and a lot of symbolisms, depicting the model of a bee associated to the city of Ephesus and mounted with a genuine Roman coin.

Bees played an essential role in Greek and Roman religious traditions. They, and the honey they produce, have many symbolic meanings. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that bees were servants and messengers of the gods and goddesses. The Romans believed that a swarm of bees was to be avoided because while the swarm was on the move, they were the carrying messages and doing the biddings of the gods. They also feature in many stories of the Greek and Roman gods. One story tells of the birth of Zeus, King of the Gods renamed Jupiter by the Romans. The coin mounted in this piece show us the standing figure of Jupiter giving victory to the emperor.

Roman Coin: Is a genuine Roman bronze antonianus coin from the Imperial period, struck in the name of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus (286-305 AD). The obverse show the armored and crowned bust of Maximinus. At the reverse, he's standing and draped receiving the victory from a naked Jupiter holding a scepter with legend CONCORDIA MILITIAS.

Weight: 72.95 Grams, (46.76 Dwt).

Measurements: 74 mm by 100 mm by 40 mm (2.90 x 3.94 x 1.57 Inches).

Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the silver , the pattern and order numbers the letter T, for Charles L Tiffany and signed, "TIFFANY & CO. MAKERS SILVER SOLDERED 11638 265 T 309 12".

Note: This is the model number 11638, designed by Charles L. Tiffany and produced in 1893.

Note: Tiffany silver holloware and flatware is generally marked Tiffany & Co and generally includes date letters indicating the period it was made. Flatware also usually includes a pattern number. The first date letter "M (old English) used by Tiffany’s represented Edward C. Moore, who was the head of tiffany's silver operations since 1873 until 1891. after his death, the date letters were based on the initial of the current tiffany president; 1891-1902 Charles L. Tiffany (T), 1902-1907 Charles T. Cook (C), 1907-1947 John C. Moore (M), 1947-1955 Louis De Bian Moore (B), 1955-ca.1965 William T. Lusk (L).

The Tiffany dynasty 

Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 at 259 Broadway in New York City by Charles Louis Tiffany and partner John B. Young.  It began not as a jewelry & silver emporium, but as a purveyor of stationery and fancy goods under the name Tiffany & Young. Although America was in a deep economic recession, the store soon acquired a respected name and flourished with its quality merchandise imported from Europe, India and the Orient. In 1841, a new partner, J. L. Ellis joined the firm and the name changed to Tiffany, Young & Ellis. The first of the Tiffany "Blue Book" catalogs appeared in 1845 and with it the first indications of silver merchandise carried; a small range of personal items and all, almost certainly, imported. The firm expanded to larger quarters at 271 Broadway in 1847, the move enabled a significant increase in the retailing of silver and jewelry. It is here that American made silver finally took its place alongside the Tiffany name. The goods were made mostly by New York City silversmiths and often bore their maker's marks, as well as the Tiffany retailer's mark. The year 1851 was an important year in the history of American silver, Tiffany, Young & Ellis, seeking to give their silver goods distinction, became the first American firm to introduce the use of the English Sterling (.925) standard in American made silver.

Deciding that they wanted more control, they contracted with the firm of John C. Moore, one the finest American holloware silver smithies, to produce exclusively for Tiffany's. Both Young & Ellis retired in 1853, giving Charles Tiffany control of the firm, again he moved it to larger quarters at 550 Broadway and the name was changed to that which we know today, Tiffany & Company. Over the next two decades, Tiffany worked closely with J. C. Moore and, increasingly with his son, Edward Chandler Moore, who had fully taken the reins of Moore concern in the 1860's. Together, the artist Moore and the businessman Tiffany, created many landmark pieces of American silver and spread the fame of Tiffany & Company silverware. In 1867, at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, Tiffany's became the first American firm to win an award for excellence in silver. Charles L. Tiffany made a landmark decision in 1868, he reached an agreement with Edward C. Moore and purchased the Moore firm. At this juncture, Tiffany & Company became a silver manufacturer as well as a silver retailer. For his part, Edward Moore became a Tiffany retailer stockholder and the general manager of the silverware end of the business. His first important step was to expand production to include flatware manufacturing. In 1869 "Tiffany", the company's first flatware pattern, premiered and the firm moved to new and larger quarters on Union Square.

Moore was a cultured man, an avid world traveler and collector of art and objects of the Near & Far East. As the Aesthetic Movement style became fashionable, his innovative nature and knowledge of Eastern art combined with his superlative design skills to bring Tiffany's to the forefront of American silver manufacturers. Many of the finest Japonesque and Moorish Revival objects ever created, including major presentation pieces, were made by Tiffany & Company at this time. By the time of Edward Moore's death in 1891, Tiffany & Co. had won major awards at successive European and American Expositions and had become the most internationally respected American silver manufacturer. The founder, Charles L. Tiffany passed on in 1902, leaving a legacy based on sound business judgement and goods of exceptional quality. Tiffany & Company moved to its present quarters at 5th Avenue & 57th Street in 1940 and remained in the hands of the Tiffany & Moore families until 1955. (Encyclopedia of silver marks, with thanks).

Condition: The overall condition of this oil lamp is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the silver. All parts are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D042523MROH/2.162