Inspired by the iridescence and irregular surfaces that resulted from the mineral decomposition of ancient Greek and Roman glass, Louis Comfort Tiffany began experimenting to achieve similar effects on blown glass produced by his firm. By introducing acid fumes during the manufacturing, Tiffany was able to achieve the rich and variegated colors seen on this vase, called "Cypriote" glass to acknowledge his admiration for ancient prototypes. Shown in the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, this piece was bought by the Museum as a superb example of the latest style and technique. Tiffany himself, who was largely responsible for the mature style of Art Nouveau glass in the United States, never actually made any of the glass produced by his company, but he worked closely with his chemists and technicians and supervised the myriad details of manufacturing such elaborately worked objects. Miriam E. Mucha, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 296.