Card Case

Under the direction of Edward C. Moore (1827-1891), Tiffany & Co. produced a diverse array of exquisitely wrought and highly original silver. This card case is a particularly striking and coherent example of the firm’s inventive engagement with designs and decorative motifs found in Japanese art, an extensive collection of which Moore assembled to educate and inspire himself and his staff at Tiffany. Dragonflies feature prominently in many of Tiffany’s Japanesque designs. Here, two meticulously chased dragonflies with quirky, expressive faces appear to flitter across the surface, revealing Moore’s penchant for whimsical renderings of animals and insects. The dynamic, asymmetrical composition unfolds seamlessly around the case so that the dragonflies wrap from front to back. The form is further enlivened by the hammered ground, a decorative technique which Tiffany records describe as "equal" to that of the Japanese. The identity of the individual who owned this card case, which bears the monogram SBR, is not known. The size of the case suggests it belonged to a woman as ladies’ cards were typically larger than those carried by men. Calling (or visiting) cards played a central role in complex social rituals that forged relationships and secured one’s position in society. Strict rules governed the presenting and displaying of calling cards, and card cases were carefully considered features of an individual’s persona. Advancements in printing technologies during the nineteenth century resulted in a wealth of calling card options, ranging from unadorned cards bearing only a name or a name and address to elaborate, colorful designs in which names are hidden within bouquets of flowers. Whoever carried their cards in this case was undoubtedly a fashionable lady with progressive tastes; perhaps the cards within also would have featured a sophisticated Japanese-inspired design.