Posted by Rudy Veraar
on December 29, 2025
Favrile Pottery is a line of sculptural art ceramics produced by Tiffany Studios. Louis Comfort Tiffany began experimenting with ceramics as early as 1898, inspired by French Art Nouveau ceramicists. The name Favrile, derived from the Old English word for "handmade," was also applied to this pottery by Tiffany.
Design, Glazes and Iridescence
The pottery was usually cast in molds and displayed the aesthetics of native plants, often in the shape of living plants, such as the famous "Skunk Cabbage" vase. The studio produced a wide range of glaze effects:
- Glazes: Including matte, crystalline, and iridescent, with colors ranging from dark brown, green, red, and blue.
- Iridescence: This mimicked the effects of his Favrile glass, which gave the pieces a unique sheen. Early pieces often had a light, yellow-green color, sometimes referred to as "old ivory."
Production in "Little Arcadia"
The production of Favrile Pottery took place in a specialized studio within Tiffany's complex in Corona, Queens. This department was initially led by the Danish artist Edith Lautrup. Clara Driscoll, head of the lamps department, referred to the pottery and enamel department as "Little Arcadia".
This was because the designers there—including Alice Carmen Gouvy, who influenced the vase designs—enjoyed significant artistic freedom and were able to focus on the "matter of beauty" without constantly having to consider production costs and standardization, unlike the Fancy Goods Department.
Short Commercial Lifespan
Although Favrile Pottery was artistically significant and was introduced at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, it did not achieve the same commercial success as the lamps, and production ceased between approximately 1917 and 1920.
Read more:
Discover more about the department that produced Favrile Pottery in our article about Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls.
