Louis Comfort Tiffany is one of the most famous American artists, known for his work in glassmaking and interior design.
Born in New York City, Tiffany was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., a jewelry store that still exists today. He began working at his father’s store as a teenager but quickly grew bored with it. In 1879, he founded his own glassmaking company, Tiffany Studios.
Tiffany’s work was heavily influenced by William Morris, an artist who has been called “the father of modern design.” Morris popularized the use of bright colors and intricate patterns in glasswork, which became a hallmark of Tiffany’s style.
In 1894, Tiffany introduced Favrile glass to the world. Favrile glass was known for its iridescent colors and became one of the artist’s signature mediums; it was also used in many of his later works.
Tiffany’s work debuted at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893—the same year he designed and built Laurelton Hall in Oyster Bay, Long Island (now open to public tours). This house was designed as if it were an extension of its natural landscape—a rarity at this time when most homes were built like castles.
