How Much Do You Know About Tiffany & Co. Jewelry?

In 2012, Tiffany & Co. celebrated its 175^th anniversary. Its story began in 1837 as a New York jewelry store that was opened by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John Young. Over the decades, it expanded and grew to become a hallmark of the Art Nouveau movement that ran from about 1895 to 1910. Unlike so many other jewelry enterprises, the company maintained its rightful place among silversmiths and jewelry makers even after its most famous style period ended. At this time, Tiffany & Co. operates about 200 stores across the world.

When buyers think of Tiffany & Co. jewelry, they frequently associate the Art Nouveau pieces made so popular by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Already famous for his artistic design abilities by 1882, Louis was invited to redecorate the White House. His artistic designs became much sought after virtually overnight. When 1900 came around, Tiffany & Co. jewelry was widely considered to be on the cutting edge of Art Nouveau, and America’s high society became regular customers at the jewelry store.

The jewelry pieces they selected drew their inspirations from nature. Flowers and intricate plants in particular were a staple for Tiffany jewelry of the time. As other Art Nouveau jewelers took great care to use curvy features and fantastic designs of a more decorative nature, Tiffany chose to depart from the style that had made him a household name. Rather than following the same patterns that so many of his colleagues favored, he kept the nature motif but expanded on the use of acceptable plant life. It is not uncommon to see dandelions, tulips and wild carrots rather than heaving vines and colorful orchids.

Color choices were bold and busy. Celtic influences became more and more apparent. In the course of time, Tiffany jewelry would include jade, turquoise, lapis and opals. By the time the Art Deco movement was in full swing, Tiffany was still designing highly desired pieces. During Louis’ lifetime, he created about 5,500 pieces of jewelry.

Tiffany & Co. relinquished its place on the cutting edge of stylish jewelry creation by the failure to hire a new artistic director until 1955, which was more than two decades after Louis’ death. Although the newly established design director Van Day Trueux managed to land a few coups of his own, the company never recovered its place at the forefront of the artistic jewelry trade. Nevertheless, with the company’s stellar reputation firmly in place, it now created gorgeous pieces that appealed to America’s socialites and anyone else who wanted to own a piece of America’s history.

Bright gemstones, large enamel panels and ribbed bangles became the hallmarks of the various jewelry lines created by individual designers. The Tiffany & Co. stamp found on authentic jewelry is a highly coveted commodity among jewelry buyers today.

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