[Atarah]

Hi, interesting stuff you have posted Weary Tourist. You mention the father Joseph living at Sunny Bank (which is still there, its by the approach road to the old Joseph Arnold factory, near the garage at the bottom of Dill Hall Lane). Here is a lovely family group photo taken outside that very house (c1901). It is understood that Joseph (Tiffany) was feeling homesick around this period and had come back to England on this trip with every intention of settling down, but ... they did go back to America after all. Their children were Joseph Ashworth Brigggs (who died at an early age) - Viola - Helen - Alice - Ruth and Joseph Ashworth II.
Between the late 1880's and 1918, Tiffany products were at the height of fashion. They were created by Joseph's boss Louis Comfort Tiffany and quickly became part of the "Art Nouveau" vogue. The glassware produced during this period ranks as some of the most technically brilliant work ever produced. After World War I views on art altered, and the superb work created at the Tiffany Studio was thought of as outmoded and even repulsive! Tiffany did not like the new trends, and in 1924 he handed over the running of his company to the Accrington born Joseph Briggs! In 1928 Tiffany withdrew his financial support and the production of Tiffany ended. In the early 30's Joseph Briggs had the unpleasant task of trying to dispose of the company's remaining stock, this is when Accrington benefited, for the sent three case loads of the glassware back home to Accrington - approx. 140 pieces were presented to the Corporation of Accrington. A similar amount were supposedly sent to relatives, but how true this is, no-one knows, although one piece did turn up on the Antiques Roadshow when it visited Accrington in 1995.
The collection is now recognised as one of the most important collections of Tiffany glass in the world.
One of the sons, Joseph Ashworth II, visited Accrington in 1992 and presented Haworth Art Gallery with family owned oil painting of his famous father. I was privileged to meet him.