Clara and Mr. Tiffany

 Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

A fictional account of a true story. There was an actual Clara Driscoll who worked with Tiffany for years, designing the stained glass lamps that brought Louis Comfort Tiffany fame and for a time, fortune. Susan Vreeland highlights Clara's unrecognized contributions to the design and creation of Tiffany's iconic lamps and windows and her determined attempts to get women organized and fighting for fair treatment in the workplace. The existing union welcomed men only because women didn't need jobs, her proper place being in the home.

Clara worked at the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company for a while until she got married and, in compliance with company policy, had to leave. The story opens a few weeks later when, single again, she went back to see if they'd rehire her. They did, and put her in charge of a women's section they were looking to expand because Tiffany firmly believed "women have greater sensitivity to nuances of color than men do." He saw their talent, but took credit for their work himself; this book doesn't paint him in a flattering light at all.

Clara's personal life with friends at her boarding house together with her work life with other female artisans at the studio all made for a good story, but Clara herself wasn't an endearing character. She seemed a little too full of herself. and her need for recognition and special attention from her boss was mentioned often enough to become tedious. 

Still, I enjoyed the book for its setting in the stained-glass industry. Learning a little about the different types of glass, why they select certain colours for specific projects, and how it's assembled in the leaded setting made this a very satisfying read. For me the art itself is the main character, and it's what I'll take with me from this one.