Tiffany & Co. at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Chicago World's Fair

Author: Spencer Gordon - Mark McHugh
Published: Thu, Apr 9th, 2020

The Wild Rose Vase, Tiffany & Co., 1893, Exhibited at the 1893 Columbian World's Fair.

As travel improved and international commerce became more important during the 19th century, fairs and exhibitions became destination events for the rapidly expanding middle and upper classes. The first "international" exposition was held in London in 1851, known as the "Crystal Palace" for its glass building.

Soon, world's fairs were held every several years, and luxury goods makers found a perfect method to market their most important pieces. Not only did throngs of increasingly wealthy people attend the 'must-see' fairs, but press reports could so influence public demand that successful exhibitions could change a company's fortunes.

Back to articles