Pair of Tiffany Studios Rare Turtleback Lanterns

Tiffany Studios, A Rare and Early Pair of "Turtle-Back" Lanterns, circa 1895

Leaded glass, Favrile glass, bronze. 12 in. high, 10 in. diameter each lantern; 50 in. drop.

 This exceptionally rare pair of spherical lanterns dates to the earliest years of Tiffany's lighting production and represents one of his most innovative approaches to illuminating interior spaces. Each globe is suspended by artistic hanging hardware composed of interlocking bronze circles, giving the fixtures a refined, jewel-like presence even before they are lit.

The Turtle-Back tiles in these lanterns are unlike the more commonly encountered examples in opaque blue, green, or red glass. Here, the molded tiles were made with transparent and internally decorated glass displaying vibrant multi-color iridescence across their surfaces. When illuminated, the tiles produce a dazzling tortoise-shell effect. Bordering the Turtle-Back band at top and bottom are geometric tiles in fiery tones of red and orange, amplifying the warmth of the glass when the lanterns glow from within.

The flared opening at the back of each globe indicates the lanterns were originally designed to be lit by gas flame rather than electricity — placing their manufacture firmly in the mid-1890s. A similar spherical lantern with Turtle-Back band and related interlocking-circle hardware was installed in the living room at Laurelton Hall, Tiffany's own estate, confirming the form's significance within his personal vision for interior lighting.