Viking Vase Analysis

The silver, jewel incrusted Viking- themed vase designed by George Paulding Farnham for Tiffany & Co., especially for the Pan American Exposition of 1901 in Buffalo, New York stands alone in a centrally located glass case in the American Silver Gallery located on the fourth floor of the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas. Only standing eight inches high, the intricate details of the vase draws the viewer in and keeps them there as the eye runs over the delicate scroll and serpentine patterns of silverwork, colorful enameling and strategically placed garnets and citrines.
Engraved, chased, and etched, the interlacing Celtic-like scrolls and knots wrap delicately and symmetrically around the vessel. Serpentine handles flank the widest and uppermost portion of the vase while twin stylized bird head figures frame the rim. In the center of the vase sits a stylized Viking-like mask or helmet. Symmetrically placed gemstones adorn the vase from the rim to the foot, while contrasting matte lavender, light green, and golden yellow enamels sit just behind the gleaming silver scroll patterns and echo the colors of the gemstones.
Although the actual creator or craftsperson(s) who physically
Some of which included his Viking themed silver including this specific vase on display at the Dallas Museum of Art. While the movement associated with this piece is centered on Victorianism, it would sit well in a possible eclectic revival of the primitive, yet not a revival of a certain period- rather it is a revival of “the exotic” or primitive; cultures that Farnham drew his inspirations from are intertwined in his designs. Similar to that of Edward C. Moore who Farnham assisted and learned from, he too was also very inspired by the designs of other cultures; Moore’s aesthetic obviously was passed down to Farnham and eventually made its way into Farnham’s