| Considered one of the great contributions to | | | | treatment would involve applying a patina to |
| the Art Nouveau movement, stained glass lamps | | | | the solder. |
| have remained very popular. With a | | | | |
| characteristic stained glass shade, Tiffany | | | | Tiffany lamps are characterized by several |
| lamps became the standard for these beautiful | | | | distinctive patterns. Some tiffany designs |
| light fixtures. Taking full advantage of the | | | | were based in the use of geometric shapes |
| widening availability electricity, stained | | | | ranging from squares and rectangles to |
| glass lamps are a great example of form | | | | triangles and ovals. Tiffany also created |
| following function. | | | | beautiful floral patterns in a variety of |
| | | | shapes. Florals were often combined with some |
| Following the success of the original Tiffany | | | | type of geometric pattern. |
| designs, many other styles of stained glass | | | | |
| lamps were produced. Though the term Tiffany | | | | Cone shaped lamp shades are more difficult to |
| is often used to describe stained glass | | | | produce. The pieces of glass were generally |
| lamps, there is only one Tiffany. The concept | | | | smaller than the glass used to make geometric |
| of a table lamp was not new in the late | | | | shapes. The difficult task of creating a cone |
| eighteen hundreds. Oil and gas table lamps | | | | shape shade makes this class of Tiffany lamp |
| had been in wide use by the time Thomas | | | | more expensive and highly collectible. Not |
| Edison and other inventors began marketing | | | | all of the shades produced by Tiffany |
| electric light bulbs. | | | | featured a flat edge. The irregular patterns |
| | | | often came in a globe shape with edges that |
| The first Tiffany lamps appeared at the turn | | | | were irregularly shaped. The patterns were |
| of the twenty century. Each lamp was made by | | | | less geometric and more free flowing in |
| hand and reflected the work of the individual | | | | design. |
| artist. The base of the lamp was typically | | | | |
| made of brass or bronze. It should be pointed | | | | Regardless of which pattern it is, a genuine |
| out that several copies of a particular | | | | Tiffany lamp can fetch quite a high price. |
| design were made but the lamps were never | | | | The highest price ever paid for a Tiffany |
| mass produced. Even though several copies of | | | | lamp at auction is reported to be over eight |
| a pattern were produced, each lamp shade has | | | | million dollars. |
| a one of a kind feel imparted by the | | | | |
| individual artist. Louis Tiffany gained | | | | For those of us who can not afford the high |
| experience in working with glass as a maker | | | | price of genuine Tiffany, there are some |
| of stained glass windows. Working with pieces | | | | reasonable alternatives. There are lamp |
| of scrap, he began to design lamp shades. He | | | | makers who offer reproductions of Tiffany |
| utilized standard methods of production that | | | | patterns for a fraction of the cost you might |
| were used in creating stained glass windows. | | | | expect to pay for the genuine article. There |
| | | | are some very high quality reproductions and |
| Leaded stained glass is typically made from | | | | original designs done in the Tiffany style by |
| cut pieces of colored glass. A pattern would | | | | modern artists. It is common to see glass |
| be drawn and cut then used to score and cut | | | | mosaic designs on some of the lamp bases. |
| the individual pieces of the glass puzzle. | | | | |
| The edges of each piece of glass would be | | | | If you fancy the idea of owning a genuine |
| covered in copper metal foil than soldered | | | | Tiffany lamp, it pays to do your homework. As |
| together. In the days of Louis Tiffany and | | | | with any type of collectible, there are many |
| until recently, lead based solders were used, | | | | fakes and knockoffs of the genuine article. |
| hence the basis for the term leaded glass. | | | | There are Tiffany knockoffs are very well |
| Lead has been removed from most solders since | | | | made and will certainly fool an untrained |
| lead is now considered a hazardous material. | | | | buyer. Be certain to educate yourself about |
| Once the soldering is completed, the joints | | | | the unique qualities of genuine Tiffany |
| would be cleaned and given a treatment. The | | | | before you commit to a purchase. |