Customer Reviews

A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls

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Looking into how the highly-valued Tiffany lamps and other fine objects came to be, the three authors disclose the critical, unique part Clara Driscoll had in this. Driscoll served as a major creative force for many Tiffany lamps by her own artistic sense and as director of a staff of other talented women. Recently found correspondence of Driscoll's--an Ohio native who lived from 1861 to 1944--verifies that she was mostly responsible for the classic Tiffany designs of the Wisteria, Dragonfly, and Peony.

The authors do not aim to devalue Louis Comfort Tiffany's (1848-1933) role and reputation in giving Driscoll her due. They seek mainly to lay out a broader, more informed understanding of the creation of the timeless Tiffany works. Parts of the book go beyond Driscoll's place in the company to see her as representative of sprightly, adventuresome, and bright young American woman coming into the American workforce and into large cities in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Besides Driscoll, there were a number of other similarly-talented and -natured women who contributed to the inimitable design and outstanding status of the Tiffany lamps and other objects. Collectively known as the "Tiffany Girls," many are pictured in available period photographs; and all known are given biographical notes.

A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls

I found this book fascinating, as I have been researching the stained glass windows and other memorial gifts in the Nave of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Missouri, the Cathedral Church of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri. Agnes Fairchild Northrop (1857-1953) was discussed in this book, and there were two photographs of her. I was eager to learn about her because the largest Tiffany window in our Cathedral is based on a window Agnes designed in 1910 for Helen Miller Gould, and I wanted to include as much information about her as I could in the book I'm preparing.

But the stories of Clara Driscoll and the other "Tiffany girls" were just so interesting to me, and it was almost like having been there, and being able to see and experience all the events and activities behind the man and his art glass company which has certainly attained mythic heights in American culture. The research was detailed and impeccable.

And the price was so reasonable!

If you're reading this, you're already at your computer, so what are you waiting for? Buy it, already!

What a wonderful find this was for our family. There are so few photographs left of someone who gave us so much love. Her brother also worked for Tiffany in the show room.

I recently saw a Tiffany Lamp Exhibition in Asheville, NC. at the Biltmore. The colors of the lamps were wonderful. I bought this book and really enjoyed the history it provided. I have a new appreciation of Louis Tiffany and the people who made this art possible.

Not only is this a beautiful book, it's also the perfect companion to any book club reading of "Clara and Mr. Tiffany". My book club loved the story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany girls. This book not only shed further light on their lives but also includes actual pictures of Clara Driscoll, her girls, as well as, the workroom, boarding house and life outside the work place. Very enjoyable addition to the Tiffany story. Highly recommended!

After reading and loving "Clara and Mr. Tiffany", this book just makes it all greater. Susan Vreeland is going to be our visiting author here in Bradfor this year and will speak to the whole community and has been a pleasure for our committee, One Book Bradford, to deal with.