Clara and mr tiffany

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading clara and mr. Against the unforgettable backdrop of new york near the tu. Clara driscoll december 15, 1861 november 6, 1944 of tallmadge, ohio, was head of the tiffany studios womens glass cutting department the tiffany girls, in new york city. There is an amusing little story about this window in the book clara and mr tiffany. Vreelands depiction of clara s world, her accomplishments and her desires in clara and mr. In this novel, the author suggests that the famous tiffany lamps were clara s innovation and design and that tiffany took. Clara and mr tiffany summary and analysis like sparknotes. Tiffany is a noble and necessary book, lest we allow ourselves to be ignorant of the struggle, courage, and vision of women who have come before us.

Her latest book is called clara and mr tiffany, and it brings to life clara driscoll, the woman behind the beautiful and exotic stained glass lamps that the house of tiffany produced just before the turn of the century. Lucky for him, clara driscolls romantic misfortunes insure that she can continue to craft the jeweltoned glass windows and lamps that catch both her eye and her. National bestseller its 1893, and at the chicago worlds fair, louis comfort tiffany makes his debut with a luminous. One of those women was clara driscoll, who likely conceived the idea of using leadedglass in lamps and then designed some of the most famous lamps produced by tiffany. Clara discoll was the head of the tiffany womens division and possibly the person who conceived the idea for the iconic tiffany. Publicly unrecognized by tiffany, clara conceives of and designs nearly all of the iconic leadedglass lamps for which he is long remembered. The window was designed by tiffany for the worlds exposition in chicago in 1893. When we first meet the heroine of susan vreelands new historical novel, clara driscoll is a widow and returning to work for louis comfort tiffany. It is written beautifully by a master of the art novel genre, susan vreeland. This book was inspired by the recent revelation that employee clara driscoll was responsible for the design and creation of many of the spectacular windows and lamps once attributed to louis comfort tiffany. She was artistic, ambitious, smart, creative, independent, and tiffany lamps might never have been created if not for her. Tiffany presents these two figuresone the giant of american decorative arts, the other unknownas they engage each other, collaborating, probing and. The mr tiffany in this case is the son of the famous mr tiffany of. Some art historians now believe that it was clara, unacknowledged in her lifetime, who conceived the lampshades.

Most of this was unknown to scholars as recently as the fall of 2005, when a man approached mr. Below is an example of a tiffany glass window made with techniques described in clara and mr tiffany. Tiffany by susan vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of clara driscoll and the years she worked with louis comfort tiffany at his new york studio. In her sixth work of fiction about the interpenetration of life and art, vreeland luncheon of the boating party, 2007, etc. Tiffany, susan vreelands careful, informative, andintermittently grinding fifth novel, the creative force behind the iconictiffany lamp steps forward. Readers will never look at a tiffany lamp or window in the same way again. Against the unforgettable backdrop of new york near the turn of the twentieth century, from the gilded age world of formal balls and opera to the immigrant poverty of the lower east side, bestselling author susan vreeland again breathes life into a work of art in this extraordinary novel, which brings a woman once lost in the shadows into vivid color.

Tiffany by susan vreeland is the fictionalized account of the real life clara driscoll, the woman credited with creating the first tiffany lamps this book is a fascinating look at a highly successful, highly innovative art studio with all of its jealousies. Tiffany by susan vreeland louis comfort tiffany is known as the creator of the famous tiffany lamps which we all hope that antiques roadshow will tell us that leaded glass lamp in the living room really is. As sparkling and alluring as the lost story of the woman who created the famed tiffany glass lamps, clara and mr. In light of it, should clara have stayed working at tiffany. Publicly unrecognized by tiffany, clara conceives of. Tiffany makes a surprising final concession in chapter fortyseven. Their leader, clara driscoll, emerges from obscurity in another artthemed historical novel from the author of girl in hyacinth blue and the passion of artemisia. Ultimately, clara must decide what makes her happiestthe professional world of her hands or the personal world of her heart. Clara driscoll is credited with the idea for the famous tiffany lamps. Clara discoll was the head of the tiffany womens division and possibly the person who conceived the idea for the iconic tiffany stained glass lamps.

I found the authors description of the processes of creating the famous tiffany lamps and windows to be fascinating. Clara was never recognized for her incredible artistic achievementsuntil now. At the start of the novel, the widowed, 31yearold clara returns to tiffany s employ after two years away. Louis comfort tiffany staffs his studio with female artisansa decision that protects him from strikes by the allmale unionbut refuses to employ women who are married. Tiffany, susan vreelands careful, informative, andintermittently grinding fifth novel, the creative force behind the iconictiffany lamp steps forward into sepiatinted light thoughlouis comfort tiffany took credit for the stunning stained glass windows, mosaics,and decorative objects that his tiffany glass and decorating company producedin turnofthecentury new york. Inspired by her return to the work she loves, clara conceives the idea for leaded glass lampshades. But behind the scenes in his new york studio is the freethinking clara driscoll, head of his womens division. Using patterns created from the original designs, these women selected and cut the glass to be used in the famous lamps. Driscoll designed more than thirty tiffany lamps produced by tiffany studios, among them the. Set in the bustling streets and buildings of new york city instead of in distant, western canada, it equally captures the challenges of expressing reallife artistry in imaginative action. If there is a clara and mr tiffany sparknotes, shmoop guide, or cliff notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. Tiffany presents these two figuresone the giant of american decorative arts, the other unknownas they engage each other, collaborating, probing and frustrating each other, stumbling over their passions.

She also yearns for love and companionship, and is devoted in different ways to five men, including tiffany, who enforces a strict policy. Tiffany is a smart and refreshing novel about the hardships and triumphs of women in the arts at the turn of the century in new york. National bestseller its 1893, and at the chicago worlds fair, louis comfort tiffany makes his debut with a luminous exhibition of innovative stainedglass windows that he hopes will earn him a place on the international artistic stage. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Newlywidowed clara asks for her old job back, and tiffany puts her in charge of the womens department. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. Clara driscoll worked for louis comfort tiffany and was instrumental in many of the companys glass designs. She struggles with tiffanys business managers, who. Tiffany peacock i opened the beveledglass door under the sign announcing tiffany glass and decorating company in ornate bronze. Host liane hansen speaks to author susan vreeland about her new novel, clara and mr. In 1893 the name of louis comfort tiffany will be on the lips of millions. Speculate on how these serve to make clara a more wellrounded or deeper person, as well as how they serve to make the novel transcend the period depicted. But behind the scenes in his new york studio is the freethinking clara. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.