Buyers interested in Duluth window come forward

St. Paul, Minn.

September 12, 2008 5:05 AM

Minnehaha face — Legend has it that Louis Comfort Tiffany himself hand painted the face of the Native American woman standing in front of Minnehaha Falls. The window was designed by Tiffany artist Anne Weston, who ended up living in Duluth.
MPR Photo/Bob Kelleher

Duluth officials say at least two prospective buyers have expressed interest in a city-owned Tiffany window that could help plug a hole in the city's budget.

City Council member, Jay Fosle, said it's good that local people are apparently interested in the 19th century stained glass window.

The Minnehaha Window was commissioned by the State of Minnesota with Tiffany Studios in New York, for display in the Minnesota Pavillion at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The window was sold to a civic group that donated it to the City of Duluth. It's believed the window could sell for well over $1 million.
MPR Photo/Bob Kelleher

But he says closing the deal may be difficult.

"I'm thinking chances are kind of slim when the window's appraised at $2.9 million market value and to come up with that kind of money in that short of a time I think it's really going to be hard for those people to do that," Fosle said. Prospective buyers have until September 17 to formally express interest. City officials hope a local buyer might return the window to the city - while the purchase price helps fix Duluth's 2008-2009 budget deficit, estimated at about $6.5 million.

The window would likely go up for auction if no buyer comes forward.

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