Squash Window with Pebbles 1885 - 1890

This is a window made by Louis Comfort Tiffany, using glass, enamel, bronze, and pebbles. Tiffany’s glass is fascinating. Note the range of colors and textures, from the milky, opalescent glass forming the squash, to the streaky, almost liquid appearance of the background. This wasn’t just painted on the surface, it was achieved by mixing different formulations while the glass was molten. Look closely and you’ll see it’s all held together by bronze strips. But what really sets this piece apart is the pebble frame, so humble and vernacular. The contrast between the precious glass and the found stones is really striking. Tiffany was a master of effects, creating rarefied environments for America's wealthy elite. Yet here he embraced everyday materials, perhaps suggesting that beauty can be found all around us, even under our feet. It’s a reminder that art and craft are not so different after all.