r/ArtDeco

Elsa Gertrue Tennhardt was an artist and industrial designer who worked in USA. She was born around 1890 in Germany, and studied painting in Berlin before moving to New York in 1913. Shortly after arriving she attended the first worldwide Cubist exhibition with works of Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse at the New York's Armory Art Show with over 85,000 people in attendance, with inspired her greatly. She joined a New York artist community who taught her metalwork and welding, and supported herself by making silver cocktail shakers. In addition to her cocktail shakers, she also made silver plated vanity sets with modern looking hand mirrors, hairbrushes, cosmetic cases, and lipstick holders. After WWII she taught painting at the New York University art Department, and gave lectures on silver and design. She died in 1980 in Southampton, New York, USA.

Her works are preserved in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Stoked on this find. Curious if anyone knows anything about it- base looks original- the shade although is questionable? Not sure. The base is signed JC or maybe TC something- hoping someone recognizes the makers mark. Looks similar to a lamp by “Charles Ranc”- guessing different casting houses/manufactures did spin offs of his designs. Love knowing the history of the pieces I collect so if anyone has any expertise I’d be delighted to hear! Cheers