What’s in a Name?: Representations of Tiffany & Co. in Cartoons and Comic Strips

Abstract

Abstract The Tiffany & Co. Archives contain the historical design, manufacturing, and business records of Tiffany & Co., the internationally-renowned jeweler founded in New York in 1837. Among the Archives many collections are clippings books that contain cartoons and comic strips which make reference to the company, beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing to the present day. This material is largely satirical and hyperbolic, humorously connecting current events to Tiffany by using the brand’s association with luxury jewelry, stylish design, standards of excellence, and commitment to quality. The cartoons and comic strips also use Tiffany to convey general ideas about the unattainability of luxury, referencing the company’s lack of sales, its wealthy and famous customers, its role in romantic gift giving, and its attraction to jewel thieves. This article will share a selection of the cartoons and comic strips, offering commentary on how these forms of illustration and other popular culture mediums communicate the above ideas regarding Tiffany & Co. and other luxury brands.