George Paulding Farnham (1859–1927) was an American jewelry designer, sculptor and metallurgist who worked for Tiffany & Co. in the late 19th and early 20th century.

[7] Called Paul or Paulding during his lifetime,[1] Farnham began an apprenticeship around 1879 at chief Tiffany & Co. designer Edward C. Moore's studio.

The apprenticeship officially ended on November 1, 1885, and Farnham was offered a $55 per week position as general assistant to Moore.

[1][8] Farnham continued to work in Charles Moore's department at Tiffany's and his efforts in the late 1880s were predominantly devoted to designing jewelry for the upcoming Paris Exposition in the summer and fall of 1889.

Farnham created approximately 24 life-size orchids composed of enamel, silver and green gold that were accented with pearls and gemstones.

"[10] The Paris Herald praised the collection for its "boldness and originality of design" and the Jeweler's Circular complemented Farnham "to whose genius the [United States][a] is indebted.

[12] After the Exposition in 1890, Farnham designed more varieties of the orchid brooches for the private market that were sold at the New York store.

[15] Using 350 ounces of sterling silver, Farnham crafted a 27-inch high, acorn-shaped bowl supported by a pedestal composed of three Thoroughbred horse statues representing the foundation stallions Eclipse, Matchem and Herod.

Farnham designed a life-size iris brooch composed of 120 Yogo sapphires[18] and accented with diamonds, topaz and garnets inset in platinum.

Called the Ptarmigan Mines or the "Red Line," the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges were noted for rich copper, gold and silver deposits.

"[24] From 1912 to 1926, Farnham created a series of twelve oil paintings on wood panels entitled Ancient Ships of the Merchant Marine that Opened the Commerce of the World.

[25] The entire, completed collection was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. in April 1924[8] and at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition in May 1926.

[28] The couple moved in with Julia Farnham at her newly built shore-side home, called "Stepping Stone"[29] in Great Neck, Long Island.

[14] After Paulding Farnham left Tiffany & Co. in 1908, he spent more time away from his family to pursue mining opportunities in the western United States and Canada.