Mr. Louis C. Tiffany's Hall, New York

 

Mr. Louis C. Tiffany's Hall, New York.

THE conventional hallway that forms the entrance to Mr. Louis C. Tiffany's suite of apartments in this city has been treated in an original manner. Its belittling and benumbing outlines have inspired the revolt delineated on the present page, the effect of which is refreshing in the extreme. The spic and span smoothness of machine-made moldings when applied to the skirting boards, dado rail and door frame, are here happily antagonized by a vigorous treatment of the woodwork overhead. 

  The semi-darkness of such a hallway permits the use of bright color, which is here painted a bright red, and by night the half light effect is continued by perforating a circular burner in such a manner that the gas comes through it flickering like the light of a torch. This gives a mysterious and undefined illumination, for the idea is to produce an impression of mystery and indefiniteness.

  The rough pine wood of the ceiling is gouged in many places and ornamented with heavy nail-heads to make it rougher still. The stained glass-work consists of very rough pieces, and the old Flemish tapestry that hangs at the entrance to the dining-room is rough too in execution and design. It is easy to see that in this small hall Mr. Tiffany has made himself felt as an expert decorative artist.

The abstract design of the window was inspired by one created by daubing the residue of Tiffany's palette knife. The earliest domestic window by Tiffany known to survive. Owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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