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