Trivet
Item
Title
Trivet
Creator
Grueby Pottery and Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company
Date
1904-09 (ca.)
Dimensions
7 x 7 x 1 1/2 inches
Medium
Glazed stoneware and brass
Credit line
Collection of Drs. Cynthia and Timothy McGinn
Marks
"DC" (unidentified decorator) painted in green glaze on back of tile; "25755" stamped on base of trivet.
Description
This small, decorative trivet serves as a reminder of how, in addition to being a spokesman for the American Arts and Crafts movement, Stickley's business and Craftsman magazine incorporated and promoted decorative arts of the period. Stickley's association with Grueby was well-established by 1901, when he shared a booth with the firm for the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, and likely began the previous year when he was incorporating their tiles into his plant stands. His fondness for Grueby is evident too in the Log House, where the second floor fireplaces are surrounded by Grueby tiles. While the work of Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company often seems too fussy to be really a part of the Arts and Crafts movement, early issues of The Craftsman championed the firm's craftsmanship and innovative design. These articles must have drawn the attention of the company, who regularly purchased full page advertisements in Stickley's magazine.