This extraordinary object was designed by Tiffany & Company's top designer, John C. Moore. Over the years it had been overpolished, removing all the dark oxides from recesses with commercial polishing pastes. From a fall, the central column had been bent, the upper bowl dented, and several screws stripped. We restored the centerpiece by disassembling the entire piece, correcting the structure, repatinating and highlighting all the parts and reassembling it.
Before.
Note the lack of definition of the design due to overpolishing, compared to the photos below, and the tilted upper bowl. |
The parts of the base ready for reassembly, after they were repatinated, highlighted and lacquered. |
The Four Elements, ready for reassembly. |
Putting the final touches on the completed assembly. |
Completed assembly, detail |
|
