ALICE COONEY FRELINGHUYSEN: Louis Comfort Tiffany designed this four-columned entrance loggia for his own residence, the last house he designed for himself. Called Laurelton Hall, it was situated in Oyster Bay, New York, on a hill overlooking Long Island Sound. The capitals at the top of each column are astonishing for both their exoticismand naturalism. Each glazed-pottery depiction shows a different flower, accurate and easily identifiable as a specific type. From left to right, they are the lotus, dahlia, poppy, and saucer magnolia. Starting from the bottom of each group of flowers, you see the three stages of growth—the bud, the flower in full-bloom, and the seed pod---showing Tiffany’s interest in the cycle of life. The long stems in various shades of green are made of many individual pieces of glass. Tiffany’s mission was in tune with the principles of the Aesthetic Movement. He sought to combine decorative art and architecture, incorporate many sources, and integrate these elements harmoniously with an original artistic sensibility. He accomplished that goal magnificently in this loggia and throughout his extraordinary home. He created a lavish setting, using his own stained-glass windows and lighting fixtures such as the three paneled lanterns you see here. Tiffany incorporated objects from his large and varied collections, which included Japanese prints, Chinese pottery and porcelain, Asian carpets, Roman glass, and Native-American basketry. The windows and paintings of his own design like those seen here display Tiffany’s great love for nature. He also designed hanging gardens with tropical plants, waterfalls, and fountains for the surrounding landscape. Tragically, Laurelton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1957. This loggia is one of the few architectural elements that was salvaged from the fire.