Events & AwardsJun 18, 2024
Driehaus Museum Displaying Rare Jewels From Chicago CollectionsMajorsJun 24, 2024
See What Inspired Tiffany & Co. Silver Designer Edward C. Moore
A collection of the silversmith’s personal objects, as well as items created during his time at Tiffany, are on display at the Met.
Crafted in 1866-1867, this silver, silver gilt, and ivory tea set is described in Tiffany & Co. records as “Moresque.” It served as an early example of the influence Persian designs had on longtime Tiffany & Co. silversmith Edward C. Moore. A collection of objects belonging to Moore is currently on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
New York—Edward C. Moore, the creative force who brought international recognition to Tiffany & Co.’s silver business in the second half of the 19th century, now has his own exhibition.
“Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.” opened June 9 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, better known as the Met, in New York.
According to information provided by the Met, Moore (1827-1891) was the oldest of five children.
He trained in his family’s silver-smithing shop and showed promise from an early age, joining his father—a prominent silversmith in his own right—in the partnership John C. Moore and Son in 1849.
In 1851, Tiffany & Co. (then named Tiffany, Young & Ellis) became the exclusive retail outlet for Moore silver.
Shortly thereafter, Moore took over the family business and, in 1868, transferred ownership of the business to the retailer in exchange for cash and shares in the newly incorporated Tiffany & Company.
Moore became a full-time Tiffany & Co. employee, serving as the retailer’s chief silver designer until he died in 1891, just shy of his 64th birthday.
The “Collecting Inspiration” exhibition features 70 silver objects designed and created at Tiffany under Moore’s direction, including the Bryant Vase (1876), the first American silver piece in The Met’s collection; a silver pitcher from 1874 with an “exquisitely cast” elephant head; and a silver and silver gilt swan centerpiece, also from 1874.
“Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.” opened June 9 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, better known as the Met, in New York.
According to information provided by the Met, Moore (1827-1891) was the oldest of five children.
He trained in his family’s silver-smithing shop and showed promise from an early age, joining his father—a prominent silversmith in his own right—in the partnership John C. Moore and Son in 1849.
In 1851, Tiffany & Co. (then named Tiffany, Young & Ellis) became the exclusive retail outlet for Moore silver.
Shortly thereafter, Moore took over the family business and, in 1868, transferred ownership of the business to the retailer in exchange for cash and shares in the newly incorporated Tiffany & Company.
Moore became a full-time Tiffany & Co. employee, serving as the retailer’s chief silver designer until he died in 1891, just shy of his 64th birthday.
The “Collecting Inspiration” exhibition features 70 silver objects designed and created at Tiffany under Moore’s direction, including the Bryant Vase (1876), the first American silver piece in The Met’s collection; a silver pitcher from 1874 with an “exquisitely cast” elephant head; and a silver and silver gilt swan centerpiece, also from 1874.
Commissioned by friends to honor the poet and journalist William Cullen Bryant on his 80th birthday, the “Bryant Vase” is a Greek-style vase. It took Tiffany & Co. craftsmen more than a year to make. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
The Met describes this pitcher as “an especially dynamic and successful example of Tiffany’s engagement with works of art from the Islamic world and the Indian subcontinent.” It also noted that the details, particularly the elephant’s head, are a testament to the skills of Eugene Soligny, one of Tiffany’s most accomplished specialty silversmiths. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
Crafted in silver and silver gilt in 1874, this swan centerpiece had a reported retail value of $3,000 when it was made, nearly $83,000 today. According to the Met, the designers who created it studied the swans in New York’s Central Park for direction and inspiration. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
In addition to Tiffany & Co. silver, the exhibition includes more than 180 items from Moore’s personal collection—ancient jugs, vases, incense boxes, and perfume bottles, along with Murano glass crafted in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, and jars, lacquered boxes, and robes from Japan.
According to the museum, in addition to being a silversmith and overseeing the silver designers at Tiffany & Co., Moore was also a significant collector of objects in the decorative arts.
He sought inspiration from all over the world, and from all time periods.
According to the museum, in addition to being a silversmith and overseeing the silver designers at Tiffany & Co., Moore was also a significant collector of objects in the decorative arts.
He sought inspiration from all over the world, and from all time periods.
This glass bottle from Edward C. Moore’s personal collection is crafted in chalcedony and aventurine glass, blown with gilded bronze mount and stopper. It dates to the 17th-18th century. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
This dragon-handled jug is brass inlaid with silver, gold, and a black organic compound. It dates to the early 16th century and likely originated from present-day Afghanistan. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
Famed Japanese ceramicist Makuzu Kōzan made this stoneware jar featuring a parade of grasshoppers around 1870-1880. It was used to collect and store fresh water. (© The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024)
Upon Moore’s direction, his family bequeathed more than 2,000 objects and 500 books to the Met after he died so other people could see and learn from them.
The museum displayed the works together in a dedicated gallery until 1942, when they were dispersed to the specialized departments developed in the decades following.
The exhibition reunites some of these objects, displaying them alongside Tiffany silver created during Moore’s time with the retailer. It also features a number of “seldom-seen” objects a dozen public and private lenders shared with the Met.
“Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.” is on view now through Oct. 20 in gallery 199.
More on Majors
The Latest
SourcingNov 21, 2025
De Beers’ Branded, Traceable Diamonds Roll Out to 19 Retailers Called “Origin by De Beers Group,” the loose, polished diamonds are being sold in a total of 30 stores in the United States and Canada.
CollectionsNov 21, 2025
Piece of the Week: Melissa Kaye’s ‘Rocky Infinity’ NecklaceThe lariat necklace features a 4.88-carat oval-cut Zambian emerald in 18-karat yellow gold.
AuctionsNov 20, 2025
Vanderbilt Jewels Shine at Phillips Sale, Pink Diamond WithdrawnA 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
CollectionsNov 20, 2025
Rebecca Rau Jewels Debuts With ‘Then & Now’ CollectionRau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.
Weekly QuizNov 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2025
RJC Names New Executive DirectorFormer De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
WatchesNov 20, 2025
LVMH Takes Minority Stake in Citizen Group-Owned Movement Maker La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
GradingNov 20, 2025
Julia Griffith Joins SSEF as Head of EducationShe previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.
CollectionsNov 19, 2025
Larkspur & Hawk Celebrates 25 Years With Helena Bonham Carter CampaignThe British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.
TechnologyNov 19, 2025
Google Has a New Form for Reporting ‘Review Bombing’ Attacks Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.
IndependentsNov 19, 2025
Houston Jeweler Keith Shaftel Retires, Next Generation Steps In Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.
TrendsNov 19, 2025
Midas Chain Releases 2025 Holiday Style GuideThe jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
NYC Jewelry Week 2025: 12 Must-See EventsWith more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
A Giant, Bejeweled Moldy Berry Is on Display in LAThe artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.
SourcingNov 18, 2025
Another Diamond Company CEO Steps DownMark Wall, president and CEO of Canadian mining company Mountain Province Diamonds, will vacate his position next month.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
