Countless Americans who enjoy watching "Antiques Road Show" on PBS know that owners dropping in with authentic pieces by Louis Comfort Tiffany are few and far between. Better to look in a museum or the home of rich relatives in the Hamptons.

Now, however, devotees of Tiffany's works will be delighted to know that the most important exhibition in decades devoted to the artist's opulent creations in glass is on exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Richmond is the only U.S. stop on the Tiffany tour produced by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with the Musee du Luxembourg in Paris.

"Tiffany: Color and Light" features more than 170 works and runs through mid-August. Hand-blown glass objects, leaded glass windows, lamps and other decorative items from Tiffany's studios are featured along with oil paintings, water colors and mosaics.

"Not only is this a special exhibit, but ... in the Lewis Wing we have even more Tiffany on permanent [display]," said Museum Director Alex Nyerges. "I'll go so far as to say the very best work of Tiffany glass in our permanent collection gallery is a punch bowl from 1900 that cannot travel because it is so fragile. It's amazing."

Among the exhibition works are more than 20 leaded glass windows drawn from major museums and private collections throughout the world.

"There is one showstopper," Nyerges continued. "You can walk into a gallery that is arranged in the format of a chapel with four of the large windows from Montreal. It's a very quiet, dark space; you can have a contemplative moment or a religious experience. They are so stunning ... so serene."

In addition to the exhibition, the VMFA has organized a statewide driving tour of Tiffany windows with podcasts available on its Web site. The tour includes Tiffany works in the Richmond area such as St. Paul's and St. James's Episcopal churches and Temple Beth Ahabah .

Many visitors choose to remain in Richmond and take advantage of a special Tiffany overnight package at the Jefferson, a magnificent five-star hotel displaying its own Tiffany glass.

The "Tiffany: Color and Light Package has sold very well this summer and our guests have overwhelmingly enjoyed the exhibit," said Jennifer Crisp, a hotel spokeswoman.

"This is an opportunity that won't be repeated in our lifetime -- to see Tiffany at his greatest." said Nyerges, the museum director.