posted 11-13-2016 06:28 PM            

This is Truly a Golden Anniversary.

The executive staff of the silver factory on Prince St., New York, gave a handsome gold book, covered with Russian morocco, the interior being lined with white satin and containing several richly illuminated pages of vellum with an address of congratulation signed by the heads of the various departments. The cover of the book was finely chased while in the center were the profiles of Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany in bas relief, circled by a wreath of Canterbury bells and linden, signifying constancy and marriage. The wreath was tied with a love-knot bearing the date of Mr. Tiffany’s marriage. The hinges or joints of the book were ivy leaves beautifully carved, while the clasp represented a branch of oak. The vellum contained the following words:

"To our honored president, Charles L. Tiffany.

"We the undersigned members of your silver shop executive staff, on this the fiftieth anniversary of your wedding day, present for your acceptance the accompanying gift as a fitting, though imperfect expression of our profound respect and esteem.

"Glorious is the retrospect of a life like yours, that has been so just, that as the shadows of evening gently fall and the mental vision turns back and along the vista of years, the panorama of life’s battle shows naught but victories won.

"Since that first wedding day, half a century ago, the sunshine of a beneficent Providence seems ever to have led and smiled upon the many honors, and prosperity has attended and time has stepped so lightly as to scarcely leave a trace, while youth and vigor seem perennial.

"That the evening of life may prove even more bright and joyous than its morning or noontime is our fervent wish."

The employees of the silver factory presented a large gold cup, nine inches high, five and half inches in diameter and weighing fifty-five ounces. It represented an oak tree as a symbol of strength and endurance. The body of the cup simulating the trunk had four handles representing branches, for the four living children of Mr. Tiffany, while three broken branches protruded from the base for the departed ones. Around the roots of the trunk was a vine of ivy. Growing from the handles at the top were appropriate flowers forming a canopy over the Latin inscription, Virtutis Fortuna Comes. Surmounting the entwined monogram of Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany was a honeysuckle. Over the dates of the weddings were Canterbury bells and linden. Accompanying the cup was the following address signed by the three hundred and eighty-four silver workers:

To Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Tiffany.

"On the joyous occasion of your Golden Wedding, we the undersigned, your attached employees beg leave to extend to you our heartfelt congratulations and to present to you the gold loving cup as a token of our profound respect and esteem.

"Accept with it our fervent good wishes that continued health and prosperity be yours, with length of days, contentment and happy memories."

The employees of the store presented their congratulations in the shape of a fine gold medal weighing over three hundred penny, weights, and measuring about three and a quarter inches in diameter. One side bore profile portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany in relief circled by the words:"Fifty years of married life spent happily together, 1891," while the other contained the following inscription within a wreath of oak leaves and linden: