Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Exquisite ‘Lava’ Favrile Vase

This abstract figural “Lava” Favrile glass vase by Louis Comfort Tiffany at Tiffany Studios New York features a free-form spiral trail of lustrous gold metallic glass, set in high relief against a purplish-blue grounded base, imitative of flowing lava. Considering glass as a liquid, it is a beautiful meditation on the medium to consider recreating the raw power and beauty of molten rock, as Tiffany has done here. The powerful form of the cone-shaped cylindrical vase, and the clean articulation of the different blue, mauve, and gold metallic finishes make this piece incredibly rare.