Teapot

An asymmetrical composition of diagonal rods draped with conventionalized flowers and vines enlivens this teapot’s smooth geometric surface, while East Asian cloud motifs accent the spout and upper portions of the body. Although identified as "daisy work" in Tiffany records, the flowers here closely resemble the Japanese imperial mon (emblem) of a stylized chrysanthemum, a device that would have been familiar to Moore through his visits to world’s fairs and European museums with displays of Japanese art. Moore’s collection and library include numerous possible sources of inspiration; a textile on display in this gallery features diagonal bars and flowers reminiscent of the decoration here. An enduring mainstay of Tiffany’s Japanesque ornament, "daisy work" was employed throughout the 1870s.