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Tiffany believed that nature should be the primary source of design inspiration and frequently experimented with new methods of glass manufacture to produce objects exhibiting a wide variety of colours and textures. By 1893, after almost 20 years of experimenting, Tiffany had made significant progress in the development of his new medium, which he ultimately called "favrile glass".
The word favrile derives from the old English word fabrile, meaning "pertaining to the craftsman or his craft". Tiffany's favrile glass is composed of various colours of glass fused together while still in the molten state. The foundational technique developed by Tiffany was capable of a vast range of decorative effects. The term was trademarked by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in 1894.
One of the most popular techniques resulted in the so-called peacock feather design, seen here. Tiffany first exhibited vases and plaques in this design at the Tiffany Studios in 1896, after a year-long series of experiments. Peacock glass was achieved by combining five different types of glass, two of which were aventurine, a form of quartz. Together, they produced feathers of shimmering blues and greens into which an opalescent "eye" could be inserted.
The present vase was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, Corona, New York.
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