Swan Centerpiece

Visitors to Tiffany’s display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition were greeted by this majestic gilded-silver swan floating on a mirrored surface atop a silver pedestal. Hammered from a single sheet, with only the head, feet, and beaded accessories fashioned separately, the swan had a reported retail value of $3,000. Identified in company records as "Indian" and "Oriental," it epitomizes the hybrid approach to design Moore advocated. The designers began with studies in nature, in this case at the ponds in Central Park. They then incorporated Indian and Asian decorative traditions employing conventionalized patterns to convey nature’s essence. The swan is further enlivened by adornments that echo jewelry in Moore’s collection.