M.S. Rau to Showcase Rare Tiffany Lamps, Jewels in New Orleans
Collectors from all over the world are expected to attend this landmark opportunity to acquire important works—including some by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself
Historic, museum-worthy Tiffany & Co. pieces pop up at auction on occasion, but attending previews may not always be possible—and the potential for a bidding frenzy can push even the tiniest pendant well past its estimated value. Knowing this, seasoned collectors have long sought out a quieter source for treasures of this caliber: M.S. Rau, an antiques gallery located in the heart of New Orleans’s French Quarter.
On October 25, the 100-year-old institution will unveil “Treasures of Tiffany: Icons of American Design,” an exhibition of more than 80 Tiffany & Co. objects “that rival—and in many cases surpass—what is presented at the world’s leading auction houses and museum collections,” says M.S. Rau’s Marjorie Rawle, head curator of the show.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will delve into the stories behind the Tiffany name, revealing the lives and lore of its visionaries. Louis Comfort Tiffany (a.k.a. LCT), for example, son of founder Charles and the design house’s first creative director, was known to smash any glass he deemed imperfect, according to MS Rau. The undeniable highlight of the show is a kaleidoscope of Tiffany windows by LCT, including one that spans six panels with a mermaid motif and another that features white flowers against a pastoral landscape rendered in shimmering layers of blues and greens.
“LCT windows rarely come to market because most are still in their original contexts or in museums,” explains Rawle. The vibrant color palette of Tiffany glass—inspired by both the precious gemstones of his father’s famed Tiffany & Co. jewelry as well as the natural world—far exceeded that of traditional stained glass workshops, she adds.
Other LCT objects on view (and available for purchase) include lamps, paintings, and the artist’s famous decorative items and dinnerware made in Favrile glass. Known for its display of shimmering colors and iridescent sheen, the proprietary material is considered a triumph of glass blowing and one of the cornerstones of LCT’s artistic achievement. He even developed a patent for his invention in 1894.
The exhibition will feature a Favrile dinnerware set ablaze in a luminous green that shifts from pistachio to seafoam, depending on the light. Another stand out is a vase in luscious red, a color that is the most elusive and difficult to find, according to M.S. Rau.
Beyond the glass objects, there are also a number of precious metal objects. Among these rarities is a one-of-a-kind silver ewer, or pitcher, owned by Abraham Lincoln that hasn’t been on public display for more than 17 years. The historic vessel is detailed in Tiffany’s #809 Etruscan pattern, which was popular between 1854-1870.
Of course iconic Tiffany & Co. jewelry like Jean Schlumberger’s “Bird on a Rock” and LCT’s own creations are also part of the exhibition. Rawle says jewels are always a draw for M.S. Rau’s collectors, who in the past have traveled great distances to the gallery in order to see rarities like Art Deco-period Cartier masterpieces (part of an Erté exhibition mounted in 2023) or Pope Paul VI’s personal diamond cross and ring in 2018’s “Vice & Virtue.”
“These shows are once-in-a-lifetime moments for our clients to connect with treasures brought together under an exciting theme,” says Rawle.
“Treasures of Tiffany: Icons of American Design” is free and open to the public at 622 Royal Street in New Orleans and shoppable online.