Soloist Of Tiffany Vintage Sunglasses T1/04
View Similar Items
Soloist Of Tiffany Vintage Sunglasses T1/04
About the Item
- Designer:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2389883762
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, and has long been an important arbiter of style in the design of diamond engagement rings. A young Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed to his future wife, Eleanor, with a Tiffany ring in 1904. Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Astors and members of the Russian imperial family all wore Tiffany & Co. jewels. And Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis preferred Tiffany china for state dinners at the White House.
Although synonymous with luxury today, the firm started out rather modestly. Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young founded it in Connecticut as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” in 1837, at a time when European imports still dominated the nascent American luxury market. In 1853, Charles Tiffany — who in 1845 had launched the company’s famed catalog, the Blue Book, and with it, the firm’s signature robin’s-egg blue, which he chose for the cover — shifted the focus to fine jewelry. In 1868, Tiffany & Co. gained international recognition when it became the first U.S. firm to win an award for excellence in silverware at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. From then on, it belonged to the pantheon of American luxury brands.
At the start of the Gilded Age, in 1870, Tiffany & Co. opened its flagship store, described as a "palace of jewels" by the New York Times, at 15 Union Square West in Manhattan. Throughout this period, its designs for silver tableware, ceremonial silver, flatware and jewelry were highly sought-after indicators of status and taste. They also won the firm numerous accolades, including the grand prize for silverware at the Paris Exposition of 1878. Among the firm’s glittering creations from this time are masterworks of Art Nouveau jewelry, such as this delicate aquamarine necklace and this lavish plique-à-jour peridot and gold necklace, both circa 1900.
When Charles Lewis Tiffany died, in 1902, his son Louis Comfort Tiffany became the firm’s design director. Under his leadership, the Tiffany silver studio was a de facto design school for apprentice silversmiths, who worked alongside head artisan Edward C. Moore. The firm produced distinctive objects inspired by Japanese art and design, North American plants and flowers, and Native American patterns and crafts, adding aesthetic diversity to Tiffany & Co.’s distinguished repertoire.
Tiffany is also closely associated with diamonds, even lending its name to one particularly rare and exceptional yellow stone. The firm bought the Tiffany diamond in its raw state from the Kimberley mines of South Africa in 1878. Cut to create a 128.54-carat gem with an unprecedented 82 facets, it is one of the most spectacular examples of a yellow diamond in the world. In a broader sense, Tiffany & Co. helped put diamonds on the map in 1886 by introducing the American marketplace to the solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular engagement-ring styles. The trademark Tiffany® Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light. A lovely recent example is this circa-2000 platinum engagement ring. Displaying a different design and aesthetic (but equally chic) is this exquisite diamond and ruby ring from the 1930s.
- New Vintage Ralph Lauren Classic Gold XXII RX 1990 SunglassesBy Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph LaurenLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Classic Ralph Lauren gold frame ready for RX lenses. Made in Italy. Produced and design in 1990's. New, never worn or displayed. ...Category
1990s Italian Sunglasses
- New Vintage TAXI By Casanova Round Small Gold & Black 1980 SunglassesBy CasanovaLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Taxy by Casanova Avantgarde frame with original demo lenses. This pair may have minor sign of wear due to storage. Made in Italy. Measurements Front : 13 cms Lens : 4...Category
1980s Italian Sunglasses
- New Vintage Cazal 743 Gold & Black Frame RX Collector Item 1990's SunglassesBy CazalLocated in Baleares, BalearesNew Vintage Cazal Collectors Rx Item Black & Gold Frame. This Item May Show Minor Sign Of Wear Due To More Than 30 Years Of Storage Made In Germany. Measurements Front 14.5 C...Category
1970s German Sunglasses
- Vintage Anglo American Optical " GIN FIZZ " Sunglasses 1970 Made in EnglandBy Anglo American OpticalLocated in Baleares, BalearesHighly collectable " Gin Fizz " sunglasses signed by English Anglo American Optical. Cocktail elements accented frame holding a spotless pair of light lenses. Made in England. This ...Category
1970s English Sunglasses
- Vintage Anglo American Optical " COCKTAIL " Rare Sunglasses 1970 Made in EnglandBy Anglo American OpticalLocated in Baleares, BalearesHighly collectable " COCKTAIL " sunglasses signed by English Anglo American Optical. Exquisitely accented frame holding a spotless pair of light grey gradient lenses. Have a sip of y...Category
1970s English Sunglasses
- New Vintage Metzler Zeiss 9153 Oversized Copper Sunglasses West Germany 1980'sLocated in Baleares, BalearesSunglasses Metzler Zeiss Umbramatic oversized copper frame. Made in West Germany 1980's. Oversized translucent frame holding a spotless pair of light brown lenses. Frame with minor...Category
1980s German Sunglasses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Sparkling Legacy of Tiffany & Co. Explained, One Jewel at a Time
A gorgeous new book celebrates — and memorializes — the iconic jeweler’s rich heritage.
15 Scintillating Jewelry Watches to Elevate Your Holiday Style
Watchmakers have tucked their movements into all manner of precious baubles, from lapel pins to cocktail rings. The result is dazzling, wearable art that will get you to the party on time.