Large Abalone Picture Frame

Louis Comfort Tiffany was fascinated by naturally occurring iridescence, and incorporated natural materials like abalone shell into his designs. The Abalone Desk Set was one of the most popular desk set patterns offered by Tiffany Studios. It was in regular production for several decades, from around 1910 through the late 1920s; the Abalone set was one of the few Desk Sets still listed in the company’s 1929 Price List. Tiffany Studios produced a range of picture frame models as part of the Abalone Set.

This easel-backed gilt bronze picture frame was the largest offered as part of the Abalone set, with a rectangular opening which displays a 8 ½” high x 6 ½” wide photograph. Around the edge of the frame, a decorative border depicting stylized grape clusters, with each grape formed by an inset disc of shimmering abalone shell, is encircled by swirling linear channels representing coiling grape vines. In this example, these channels were filled with polychrome enamel in a deep shade of green with reddish accents, complementing the naturalistic decoration.

This fine example of Tiffany Studios metalwork is stamped on the reverse with firm’s mark and model number.

Height: 14 inches (35.6 cm)
Width: 11 inches (27.9 cm)
Depth: 8 ½ inches (21.6 cm)

Opening: 8 ½ x 6 ½ inches (21.6 x 16.5 cm)