New York, 20 April 2026 - Christie's is pleased to announce that The Boyd Family Memorial Window (The Falls) by Tiffany Studios (estimate: $1,500,000 to 2,000,000) will headline the upcoming Design auction, taking place live at Rockefeller Center in New York. The work is being offered by Second Congregational Church in Winsted, Connecticut, with proceeds supporting the church's mission and ministries.
Its composition centers on a dramatic waterfall in the foreground, an exceptionally rare placement in Tiffany landscape windows, rendered in plated and textured streaky glass that captures the sumptuous, cascading movement of the falls amongst the rocky outcrop. Surrounding the scene are voluminous palms with rippled glass fronds, and the tall stalks of lilies and irises that are elevated by plated confetti and richly mottled glass, bringing depth and atmosphere to the foliage. The acid etched cobalt distant mountains stretch across the two lancets, highlighted by a vivid orange sunset, unifying the landscape with a painterly glow. Suspended above, a medallion depicts an elaborate crown adorned with prominent hand-cut 'jewels' in high relief, flanked by smaller shaped side panels.
Commissioned by Ellen Wright Boyd in memory of her parents, John Boyd (1799 to 1881) and Emily Webster Beers Boyd (1805 to 1842), the window reflects the family's deep ties to the history of Winchester, Connecticut. John Boyd, a prominent local figure and politician, is best known for his 1873 publication Annals and Family Records of Winchester, a foundational text documenting the town's early settlers. Upon the window's placement in Second Congregational Church, the Hartford Courant from September 5th, 1899, reports "the [window] was intended to embody the things most loved by Mr. and Mrs. Boyd."
Victoria Tudor, Head of Department, Design at Christie's says: "Tiffany Studios landscape windows continue to resonate powerfully with collectors, as powerful inventions of living environments, constructed through the alchemy of glass. We have seen extraordinary enthusiasm for works of this caliber. Last year alone we've achieved incredible results with 'The Goddard Memorial Window' underscoring the enduring appeal and artistic significance of Tiffany's leaded-glass masterpieces. The Boyd Family Memorial Window (The Falls) stands firmly within this legacy, an exceptional example of the Studio's technical brilliance, emotional depth, and command of color and light. Windows featuring a waterfall prominently in the foreground are exceedingly rare within Tiffany's oeuvre, making this example an extraordinary highlight of the Design sale."
Sale highlights:
(Press Release)
