Founded by Martin Bach, Sr., who had been the first chemist and batch maker for Louis Comfort Tiffany at the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, the Quezal Art Glass and Decorating Company was established in Queens, New York, in 1901, and took its name from the multi-colored quetzal bird of central America. Because of his experience working with Tiffany, Bach produced glass that imitated the Tiffany signature "Favrile" iridescent glass, thereby pitting him against Tiffany in a bitter rivalry that lasted until Quezal's final demise around 1924.