Tiffany, Anyone? Visiting the Morse Museum in Winter Park

The Arts (1894, J&R Lamb Studios)

And now for some straight up beauty. The primary goal of our jaunt to Winter Park was a visit to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. I just call it the Tiffany Museum. After all, the Morse owns "the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Tiffany." The use of the word "comprehensive" is both specific and appropriate. Not surprisingly, the Museum features rooms full of Tiffany's gorgeous stained glass windows, lamps, pottery and jewelry. But what makes the Museum truly extraordinary is its inclusion of Tiffany's chapel interior from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and art and architectural objects from Laurelton Hall, the artist's Long Island estate.  

While the Museum is overflowing with Tiffany objects, visitors are also treated to beautiful works of art created by other studios. "The Arts" window -- created by J&R Lamb Studios -- is one example. The window is featured prominently in a room highlighting Revival and Reform style decorative arts. These works are more traditional than the style in which Tiffany worked. The classically robed women represent, respectively, textile art, literature and painting. I was amused by the fact that the music box beneath this window was playing the tune from "Here Comes the Bride."

Tiffany's Chapel Interior from 1893 World's Fair

Sitting in the chapel Tiffany created for his company's exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair is a spiritual experience even for those who don't embrace religion. It is a showcase of the scope of Tiffany's work with its electrified chandelier, leaded glass windows, decorative altar floor and mosaic encrusted columns. (This is only a partial view of the chapel; the striking windows are in an alcove to the right.) To get the full effect, you need to sit in the chapel for a few minutes as the lighting cycles through different settings. At the World's Fair, the light was maintained at its lowest setting, which "shows the chapel at its most mystical." 

From the Forest Room in Laurelton Hall c. 1925

Tiffany designed every element of his Laurelton Hall estate, from the exterior of the mansion to the landscaping to the decor. The recreated rooms at the Morse are spectacular. My favorite area houses the Daffodil Terrace with its eight columns topped by 24 glass daffodil blossoms. The terrace is set up as a sitting area for weary visitors, and it was hard to get our group to move on. Click here to see the terrace (sans the inviting wicker chairs) and here for a close-up of a column. 

Other recreations from the eight story, 84-room Laurelton Hall include the reception hall and the living room. Shown here is a mere sliver of the living room, which spanned 1600 square feet. It was aptly known as the Forest Room because the combination of natural light and colored light from the leaded glass gave off a dappled effect similar to what you might find in a forest. 

Spring Panel from "Four Seasons" 

 The room includes four panels -- each representing a season -- that were originally part of a large window exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. It is said to have been one of the artist's favorite works, so it's no surprise that the panels found a home in the Forest Room. The feeling of being one with nature was further enhanced by Tiffany's habit of covering his desk with plants and flowers (along with an assortment of magazines and other personal items).  It felt a bit cluttered to me, but I don't have quite the amount of space to work with that he had. For more on Laurelton Hall, click here. 

While Tiffany had the artistic vision to design much of the windows and lamps and art pottery for which he is known, he of course had a team of people bringing his ideas to fruition. Once Tiffany decor became popular, the role of these artistans exanded to include design. I was particularly interested to learn about one of these teams -- the Women's Glass Cutting Department. 

Wisteria lamp (right) c. 1902

In 1892 Tiffany employed six women to join the previously all-male staff that cut and selected glass for lampshades and mosaics. By 1897 the "Tiffany Girls" -- as they were known -- had grown to 50 strong. Clara Driscoll supervised the department and designed the classic Dragonfly & Water shade that won a medal at the 1900 Paris World's Fair. (Click here to see that design.)  I was taken by the Wisteria lamp, another award-winning design by Driscoll. While the shade itself is stunning, what made the lamp so special was the fact that it was electrified. But Tiffany/Driscoll did more than stick a lightbulb into the lamp. The electric wire, which gracefully scrolls across the top of the lamp, became an integral part of the design. For more on Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls, click here. 

As you can probably tell, there's a lot to take in during a visit to the Morse. Trust me when I say I haven't even hit the highlights here. It's a special museum, and one worthy of multiple visits. If you're in the Winter Park area, make sure to include a stop in your itinerary. For more information, click here.  Here's to beauty!