Discover Tiffany's & Co jewelry inspired by its famous Magnolia vase
Tiffany & Co.'s Magnolia Vase was unveiled at the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. It was billed as " the most remarkable object in artistic beauty and intrinsic value that any individual enterprise has ever produced ." This was no small feat, given that this substantial piece stands over 30 inches tall and weighs approximately 50 pounds. Today, Tiffany's Magnolia jewelry honors it.
Tiffany's Magnolia Vase: A Legendary Object
The Magnolia Vase is by John T. Curran. It was handcrafted from silver, gold, enamel and opals. It is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While other motifs have probably been more important in the 185-year-old history of the American jeweler, the magnolia has always been a quiet presence. It can be found in everything from jewelry designs to leaded glass windows and lamps.
The 2023 high jewelry offering from the “ Tiffany Blue Book Collection: Botanica ” is here. The magnolia, a flower that symbolizes perseverance and longevity, is once again in the spotlight. It has inspired the creation of meticulously crafted jewelry that pays homage to nature and showcases “ the world’s rarest, most beautiful and unusual gemstones .” These are the words of Victoria Wirth Reynolds, vice president and chief gemologist at Tiffany & Co. “ We travel extensively in search of these miracles of nature that inspire us and our designs. ”
- Tiffany Celestial Jewelry (Blue Book 2024)
Magnolia jewelry from the Botanica collection
Among the highlights of the collection, a Magnolia choker necklace took 2 years and over 1,300 hours to bring to life. It features milky opals that complement pink sapphires and rose-cut diamonds set in platinum. The ensemble mimics the pink and white ombré of a magnolia’s petals. Highlighted at the center is a breathtaking 43-carat deep pink oval morganite.
Another standout piece in the collection is the unique pair of Magnolia earrings . They feature clusters of petals anchoring an architectural diamond drop that culminates in a pink sapphire. The red spinel and diamond bands offer more playful interpretations of the petals. Two are teardrop-shaped, designed to drape gracefully over one finger and lightly embrace the next. The third asymmetrical set features a 3-carat ruby set on a bed of diamonds.
Other Magnolia 2023 Jewels
Botanica also nods to nature in other ways. With wisteria-themed jewelry incorporating blue chalcedony, sapphire, tanzanite and diamonds. There are also classic designs updated by Jean Schlumberger. For example, the Phoenix brooch , now in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum with a burst of blue. It’s also hard to overlook the iconic Bird on a Rock . This piece features a tsavorite weighing over 47 carats. The stone is a favorite of Reynolds’s. “ Because of its beautiful color, a rich green and intensely brilliant, and because they are as durable as they are beautiful. ”
Each Magnolia jewel is unique. Unlike flowers, they will shine for decades with little maintenance.
- Also read: Tiffany’s “high jewelry” shift
