Charles Lewis Tiffany

Biography

In 1837, with $1,000 borrowed from his father, Tiffany and a school friend, John B. Young, set up a small stationery and gift shop in New York City. Their first day in business brought only $4.98 in sales, but two years later they were still in business, selling glassware, porcelain, cutlery, clocks, and jewelry. In 1848, when political unrest in Europe depreciated the market in precious stones, Tiffany invested heavily in diamonds, which were sold at a great profit a few years later.

In 1851, Tiffany played a key role in adopting the English standard of sterling silver in the United States, making Tiffany & Co. the first American firm to use the British silver standard of 92.5% purity. This standard later became the benchmark for the U.S. Sterling Standard.

In 1853, the company was reorganized under the name Tiffany and Company, and opened branches in Paris (1850) and London (1868). The store also relocated uptown to a Fifth Avenue site in that decade. At the beginning of the American Civil War, foreseeing that the jewelry business would suffer, Tiffany turned most of his capital to the manufacture of swords, medals, and other war materials.

Charles Lewis Tiffany is credited with introducing the six-prong "Tiffany Setting" engagement ring in 1886, designed to enhance the visibility and brilliance of the diamond. He also introduced the "Tiffany Blue Box," which became widely recognized as a symbol of the company. He served a diverse clientele that included U.S. presidents such as Abraham Lincoln as well as prominent American families.

Tiffany was publicly embarrassed in an 1872 diamond and gemstone hoax perpetrated by Philip Arnold that cost investors more than half a million dollars.

As Broadway shows became more popular, Tiffany collaborated with Thomas Edison on footlights and other devices for theater lighting.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tiffanyshades.com/history-tiffany-lamps.html

The firm acquired and sold some of the French Crown Jewels in 1887, solidifying its reputation as merchants of high quality.[[File:Tiffany - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Gravestone in [[Green-Wood Cemetery]]|left]]

Charles Tiffany died at his home in Manhattan on February 18, 1902, at age ninety. At the time of his death, his company was capitalized at more than $2 million and was acknowledged as the most prominent jewelry company in North America.

Personal life

Tiffany was a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and one of the founders of the New York Society of Fine Arts.

Honors

Tiffany was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1878.

References

References

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5. Shand, Frankie. (2022-08-15). "Tiffany's Blue Book".
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9. "Tiffany & Co. - The Journey of an Iconic Jewelry House".
10. "Tiffany & Co. | Biographies | Charles Lewis Tiffany | ".
11. (February 19, 1902). "Charles L. Tiffany Dead". New-York Tribune.
12. (December 1, 1841). "Married: Mr. Charles L. Tiffany". [[New-York Tribune]].
13. (January 17, 1988). "Hiram Bingham; Diplomat, 84". [[The New York Times]].
14. (October 12, 2007). "Illustrations from the Tiffany Fortune: Founder of Tiffany & Co., Charles Tiffany with his granddaughter Alfreda Mitchell, 1877". tiffanyfortne.com.
15. Roth, David M., editor, and Grenier, Judith Arnold, associate editor, ''Connecticut History and Culture: An Historical overview and Resource Guide for Teachers'', published by the Connecticut Historical Commission, 1985, page 155