Blue Tiffany Compote, ca. 1915

Appraised on: July 26, 2003

Appraised in: Chicago, Illinois

Appraised by: David McCarron

Category: Glass

Episode Info: Chicago, Hour 1 (#801)

Originally Aired: January 5, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: (2:01)

GUEST: My mother-in-law had it in her basement in her china cabinet down there, and didn't really like it. And I loved it, right from the get-go. I loved the coloring of it, mostly, and the iridescence. Well, I'd had it for about four or five years, or maybe even longer, but just recently, maybe in the last two or three months, I looked it up on the Internet-- there's a signing on the bottom, and I can't remember it-- it sounds French.

APPRAISER: Okay.

GUEST: And I found pieces that were made by them, but I don't really know anything about it. I couldn't find the exact piece.

APPRAISER: Well, let me give you a little bit more information. This is a compote-- it's art glass, probably 1915. It is a beautiful blue pastel and with an opalescent base, feathering here in the cup part of the compote, and a great look. Also, on the bottom, there is a little text and a label that you saw. Now, the label is a scrolling, sort of, "L.C.T.," which stand for Louis Comfort Tiffany.

GUEST: Oh!

APPRAISER: Okay. The script is... is also Lou... "L.C. Tiffany" and then it says "Favrile," which is the type of glass, and then there's a production number here underneath around the central label. A great look. Blue is always very, very desirable. And you said you'd searched the Internet.

GUEST: Yep.

APPRAISER: Did you have an idea of value?

GUEST: Well, you know, I couldn't find anything like it. I figured a couple hundred dollars, maybe,

APPRAISER: Okay.

GUEST: just because I saw some iridescent-looking, opalescent-looking pieces similar.

APPRAISER: Tiffany glass, of course, the highest level of glass... art glass in America, basically sets the standard for glass. I would have no problem with an auction estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. How's that?

GUEST: It's pretty good.

APPRAISER: Okay. It's a beautiful piece of glass. Take good care of it.

GUEST: I will.

APPRAISER: And enjoy it and just... It was delightful to see, and very nice to see you.

GUEST: Thank you.

APPRAISER: Okay. Thanks.