Window
Designed by Louis C. Tiffany American
Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company American
In addition to the enormous holdings from the H.O. Havemeyer collection, the Metropolitan owns a small number of important furniture and decorations from the Havemeyers' Tiffany-designed Fifth Avenue house. The music room featured delicately carved woodwork and furniture, and the walls were sheathed in Japanese silks. The golden color of the furnishings and the interlaced designs of the carved wood were complemented by a highly decorative series of three transom windows, installed in the room's bay. The central panel, here, is composed of undulating leafy scrolls and blossoms emanating from a pomegranate-like fruit. Its subtle monochrome palette in opalescent, amber, and gold tones harmonized with the furniture in the room. The sinuous curves reflect the fluidity and sensuality of the art nouveau style, which reached its high point in Europe about 1900. Rough-cut amber glass jewels punctuate the composition, producing a golden sparkle when light shines through them.