Another of my favorite books Clara and Mr. Tiffany.. It not only tells a fascinating story of females in a very male profession but gives you an insight into the wonderful world of Tiffany Glass, in this instance the lamps. I am a huge fan of anything Susan Vreeland http://www.svreeland.com writes…more please.

This post in continuing my architecture theme this week by featuring some of the wonderful Tiffany Stained Glass pieces we are fortunate to have in Chicago.  There are a lot, therefore, I will only cover a few today…of course, there will be more in upcoming posts.

First up, the Tiffany glass window housed in the Chicago Rooms at the Chicago History Museum http://www.chicagohistory.org  I could, and do, stare at this for very long periods of time.  This piece is from the William Wrigley Collection. There are other examples of stained glass windows in the Chicago Rooms but not Tiffany.

Photo by Nena Ivon with iPhone.

Two of my most favorite pieces are not windows, they are domes.  First up the incredible dome in Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center…nothing could be more beautiful and to think the building was set for demolition when Eleanor “Sis” Daley, then first lady of Chicago, stood in front of the demolition team and said no way is this building going anywhere…what a disaster that would have been.  This dome, the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world, is one of the many treasures to be found in this landmarked building (I recommend you go to http://www.cityofchicago.org for further information).  The dome was originally put into place in 1897 when the building was the Chicago Public Library and was restored in 2008. It is comprised of 30,000 pieces of glass the majority of which resemble fish scales.  You can see the signs of the zodiac at the top of the piece in the photo.  One can stare at this wonder for hours and see something different each time.  The colors are amazing.

Tiffany dome in the Chicago Cultural Center Preston Bradley Hall.  Photo credit unknown.

Next up is a treasure that I am sure many of you are not aware of…it is several floors above the Cosmetic Departments of the Macy’s State Street store. It was covered for many years and has been opened for us to view…it is truly glorious.  It was installed in 1907 in the Marshall Field’s store.  It was the first favrile (this glass was patented by Louis Comfort Tiffany) iridescent glass dome to be built and is the largest glass mosaic (not stained glass!) of its kind, containing over 1.6 million pieces.The colors and designs are breathtakingly beautiful.

A close up of the mosaic Tiffany dome at Macy’s with it’s hanging chandeliers.  Truly exquisite. Look up next time you are in Macy’s, you are in for a major treat. Do, however, go on line to see more photos of this incredible piece up close and personal, views you can’t get staring up at it!  Photo credit for this image unknown.

Imagine these two amazing pieces are just a short distance from each other, you can enjoy them both in a few hours and take your own images.

We also must thank Richard Driehaus for his sensational Richard H.Driehaus Museum http://www.driehausmuseum.org which he founded in 2003 in the former Samuel Mayo Nickerson mansion.  The Museum houses a magnificent collection of Tiffany stained glass as well as other Tiffany pieces, perhaps you will see a lamp that Clara made while at the Tiffany Studios and transform yourself back into the pages of Clara and Mr. Tiffany.  In addition, check out the Richard H. Driehaus Gallery of Stained Glass at the tip of Chicago’s Navy Pier…well worth the visit but I think any time is well worth a visit to Navy Pier…remember Chicago’s Flower & Garden Show presented by Mariano’s wwwchicagoflower.com begins this weekend, March 18th and runs through March 26th, you can do a double header!  You will even see me there, do say hello, it is one of my favorite annual events.

I think a Tiffany glass tour is in order, while you are at the Driehaus Museum you are next door to the Murphy Auditorium http://www.themurphy.com which is used for special occasions, many weddings, I have, in fact, done fashion shows there..it is a perfectly preserved building that, once again, I’m sure you have walked by and not paid it any attention. If you are planning something special be sure to make an appointment to see this beauty, you won’t be disappointed.

The Auditorium Theater http://www.auditoriumtheaterorg also has art glass, their arched windows above the doors as you enter and leave the theater were created by the firm of George Healy and Louis Millet in the Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan structure which opened in 1889 and was renovated in 1967…another building saved from demolition in 1963 by a prominent Chicagoan, Beatrice Spachner along with Roosevelt University.  It is now home to the Joffrey Ballet as well as many other cultural performances.

We must consider the truly magnificent Tiffany Stained Glass in our churches and other buildings…but alas that will have to wait until another time!!

Any special Tiffany pieces you like!!!???  Do leave comments.  And, by the way, I am not at this time, compensated by any of the organizations or publishers that I mention in my blog posts.  I give you websites for your further exploration of the subjects I cover.