The Tiffany's and New London

A new exhibit at the Lyman Allyn Museum in New London, CT, curated by Tanya Pohrt!

Did you know southeastern Connecticut has a connection to Louis Comfort Tiffany, the glass-maker known for exquisite works of stained glass? Not only do local churches have stained glass windows designed by Tiffany, but the Tiffany family is from the area! Charles Tiffany, the original owner of Tiffany Jewelry stores, was from Killingly, CT. His son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, married May Goddard from Norwich, and his daughter, Anne, married Alfred Mitchell from New London. The Mitchells bought property on the Thames River. Today we know the property as Mitchell College. The Tiffany's were frequent visitors to this area in the late 1800's.

Take a close look at at the glass itself. This is not ordinary monotone colored glass. There are multiple colors, layers, light and dark, and shimmering opalescent shades that allow the designer to paint with glass.

Tiffany worked in many styles. His influences included nature, Art Nouveau, and the cultures of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He also hired designers and other crafts people to create the many works of art attributed to Tiffany Studios. 

In anticipation of the opening of this new exhibit at the Lyman Allyn Museum, I read Susan Vreeland's novel, Clara and Mr. Tiffany. Here I learned the story of Clara Driscoll, the Tiffany designer responsible for well-known stained glass lamps such as Dragonfly, Daffodils, and Wisteria. Clara worked her way up to designer and managing a department of twenty-seven women. Louis Comfort Tiffany preferred to hire women as he felt they were more sensitive to selecting color for stained glass works of art than men were. He also paid women the same wages as men - unusual for the time, and a sign of how much he valued their expertise. Not unusual for the time - women were fired if they got married, although they could be hired back if they became widowed. Readers of this work of historical art fiction will enjoy the conversations and atmosphere of life in a turn of the 20th century boarding house filled with artists, actors, poets, and writers. Those of you from southeastern CT will wonder when Vreeland will get around to writing about Florence Griswold's boarding house of the same time period, and also filled with artists.

As for the exhibit at the Lyman Allyn, I could not have enjoyed myself more! I took advantage of a Free First Saturday event. It is the first time I've ever had trouble finding a place to park! The galleries were filled with people who had been looking forward to this new addition to the permanent collection just as I had. No one was disappointed. Strangers were talking excitedly to one another, people were reading labels, watching videos, and admiring in awe. There was also a workshop for children to create their own "stained glass" paintings. Be sure to stop by the Lyman Allyn Museum and see for yourself!

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