Most noted for high-end jewelry, Tiffany & Co. was also a creator of unusual objects in the 19th century. One such item, a silver-mounted lady’s bicycle, is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams fine art auction house in Manhattan on June 4.
Founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City in 1837, Tiffany & Co. is a US maker of jewelry and silverware. In its early days the store sold a range of stationery items until 1853 when the emphasis shifted to jewelry. The company now has stores all over the world and has become a household name synonymous with ‘Tiffany Blue’ gift boxes.
Featuring carved ivory handle grips, the Tiffany bicycle is one of only a handful of these luxury two-wheelers produced in the late 1890s. One of which was made for actress Lillian Russell, confidante of the famed collector “Diamond” Jim Brady, one of Tiffany’s favorite clients. The auctioneers are expecting an estimated selling range from US$50-70,000.