The recent shake-up at Tiffany, involving the replacement of CEO Frederic Cumenal and the departure of its design director, is said to be predicated on disappointing sales and a resultant decline in share prices. Since last fall, many upscale shops in the area have complained about a negative impact they felt was caused by the hullabaloo around Trump Tower—both rubber-necking and security barricades. A change in marketing emphasis toward a younger consumer—witness the hiring of Lady Gaga for advertising—and designs reflecting that shift are reportedly in the offing to reverse disappointing balance-sheet figures. Not everyone is worried, though. Tiffany & Co. has weathered many a storm in its 180 years, and the ambiance on the floor is still serene, the merchandise still beautiful. For a sense of perspective, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, 6sqft looks at Tiffany’s history.
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Architecture, Design, Upstate
Images from Find Everything Historic
Imagine waking up one morning and getting pulled into a whirlwind of adventure, art, history, and preservation. That’s exactly what happened to Doris Cultraro of DC Studios in upstate New York when she was called in to clean and restore a 60-square-foot stained glass panel with over 6,000 pieces in 2007. “Although the original studio that produced the window was unknown, I could tell from the types of glass used that it was consistent with the great work of Louis Comfort Tiffany or Lafarge,” Cultraro told our friends at Find Everything Historic. And yes, that Tiffany. Louis’s father founded the turquoise-box silver jewelry retailer in 1837.
But how did this 19th century piece of art land in the hands of a family in the mid-Hudson Valley? They found it dumped in a salvage yard in Yonkers back in 1960 and bought it for a mere $100. According to the yard’s owner, when a wealthy tycoon’s Tarrytown mansion was demolished, the glass was left outside to rot. And the story only gets better. See if Doris was able to find out the artist of the stained glass, which wealthy businessman owned it, and where it is now on Find Everything Historic.
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