See the Most Expensive Louis Comfort Tiffany Piece Ever Sold at Auction
The “Medusa” pendant went for $3.7 million at Sotheby’s New York, smashing pre-sale estimates.

Though Tiffany eventually came to be known for his painting, interior design, and glass and enamel work (and for being the first design director at his family’s jewelry company, Tiffany & Co.), he initially started designing jewelry in 1902 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a.k.a. the St. Louis World’s Fair, in 1904.
The “Medusa” pendant was showcased at this event, alongside 26 other items from Tiffany, of which only four are known to exist today, according to Sotheby’s.
Designed at a time when jewelry design in both America and Europe was turning away from revival styles and toward nature as a source of inspiration, the “Medusa” pendant clearly shows how the natural world captivated Tiffany.
At the center of the piece is a cluster of tumbled opals, from which emerge several stylized snake motifs, two of which are articulated and all of which are set with opals and demantoid garnets.
The piece is further accented with rubies and amethysts.
Art collector and philanthropist Henry Walter bought the Medusa pendant sometime after it was displayed at the World’s Fair, but then history lost track of the piece for a bit. The pendant was listed as “whereabouts unknown” after the Parke-Bernet Galleries sold it at auction in 1943.
It is believed entrepreneur and business leader Salman Schocken bought it at that auction, Sotheby’s said. His grandson, professor Shimon Schocken, indicated it was a gift to his mother from her father-in-law, Salman, and it has stayed in the Schocken family, until now.
When Medusa hit the auction block at Sotheby’s New York Tuesday, it sold for $3.7 million, smashing its pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$200,000 and setting a world record for any Louis Comfort Tiffany creation at auction.
According to Sotheby’s, three bidders competed for nearly 10 minutes to purchase the pendant, which was the third highest-grossing lot at the sale.
See: The Lots Joining ‘Medusa’ in the Top 10
Overall, Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction achieved $57.1 million, representing the second highest total for a jewelry auction at its New York galleries, with 13 of the lots exceeding $1 million.
The sale also included an extensive collection of jewels from a private American collector, featuring what Sotheby’s called one of the most significant private collections of Bulgari to come to market. Ninety-three percent of those lots found a buyer, bringing in $9 million total.
The collection was led by a 26.54-carat D color diamond Bulgari ring, which garnered $1.7 million.
For the full results of the Dec. 7 Magnificent Jewels auction, visit Sothebys.com.
The Latest

The singer’s new bling, reportedly a natural old mine-cut diamond, is no paper ring.

Dubbed the “Imboo,” or “buffalo,” emerald, the rough gemstone is part of Gemfields’ latest emerald auction, which is taking place now.

Plans for dining out, booking vacations, and buying big-ticket items were down.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The “Play” collection centers on nostalgic toys that have kinetic elements to carry playfulness and wonder into adulthood.


Designer Christina Puchi, the creative force behind CCWW Designs, has created charms and pendants based on iconic candies and crackers.

The Jonas Brothers star showed off new timepieces against the backdrop of his favorite spots in his home state of New Jersey.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The family-owned jeweler in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is in the hands of the second generation.

In his latest column, Emmanuel Raheb shares tips for encouraging customers to treat themselves to new jewelry.

The new stand-alone Rolex boutique is housed in the former Odd Fellows Hall, a landmark built in 1897.

The Brilliant Earth ambassador co-designed a diamond medallion featuring meaningful symbols.

Wrap jewelry is more than just a trend; it’s the perfect motif for the coming season of layering, scarves, and pumpkin spice.

The three-day watch collector show, coming this October, will feature 44 exhibiting brands, as well as a new dinner experience.

Sriram “Ram” Natarajan is now GIA’s senior vice president of laboratory operations and is based out of the lab’s headquarters in Carlsbad.

The one-of-a-kind collar represents the beauty of imperfection and the strength to rebuild.

Three C-suite executives, including former CEO Tom Nolan, have resigned as part of what the company describes as a “transition.”

The retailer, which recently filed Chapter 11, inked a deal to sell its North American business and intellectual property.

Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February and be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke.

The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.

The pop-up will display this year's Tiffany & Co. Singles Championship trophies along with a diamond-encrusted tennis racket and ball.

The New Hampshire-based store has expanded to Boston, propelled by the success of Alex Bellman’s TikTok page, “The Truthful Jeweler.”

The latest incident happened Monday at a store in Oakland, California, continuing a pattern JSA first warned about last month.

The new aqua green New York Harbor Limited Edition II is the watchmaker’s second collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.

Participants who attend any three Rings of Strength events will be awarded a special medal.

The investment company, founded by Dev Shetty, has acquired the struggling miner and its assets, including the Lulo mine in Angola.

Smith shares wisdom he gleaned from a podcast he was listening to one morning while being walked by his dog, a Malshi named Sophie.