May 12, 2009

The original Tiffany Lamps were so well made that many of them have survived to today. Though it is unknown how many originals were make by L.C. Comfort and the Tiffany Studios, the true originals can fetch over five million dollars today. Many good copies on are the market today. Some for as inexpensive as about a hundred dollars, and some for as much as several thousand dollars.

Having a Tiffany style lamp is having a piece of American history on display. From Tiffany table lamps to Tiffany floor lamps, many styles and kinds can be found. Today there are also Tiffany pool table lamps, ceiling lights, and accent lamps.

The butterfly accent lamp is so unique. Lit so that the butterfly almost looks magical, they make a great conversation piece in a living room. Intricate metal frame working coupled with a small light bulb and an array of colors enhance the lights.

For more ideas, product reviews, and a taste of the history behind these lights, view more posts on this page.

Thanks for reading, Sue

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September 12, 2009

When researching these Tiffany style lamps, there is no getting past the history. If ones over looks the story of these lamps, then you inadvertently overlook the lamps themselves. Tiffany lamps have a history that began over 120 years ago with the invention of the first lamp. Beginning with Louis Comfort Tiffany, painter, stained glass artisan, turned lamp creator, a American tradition evolved.

The old cliche, one man’s trash in another man’s treasure, can be applied. Left over stained glass window cuttings along with an eye for design, made cutoffs into a whole new product world. Over time others copies the Tiffany works, there are ways to identify the originals made by the Tiffany Studios. The original lights either had no markings at all or a simple number sequence or the word “Favrile”, a word Tiffany coined for his delicate work. After the turn of the century, some lights were stamped with “Tiffany Studios”. Other originals do bare a mark or letters such as “L.C.T.”, but initials such as that were actually added to the originals after they had gained in notoriety.

The term Favrile is an interesting side note. This word was taken from an old world French word meaning handcrafted. Tiffany used the term first relating to his iridescent glass, patenting it under the name, “febrile iridescent glass”. This man did have a big ego, I would say, and choosing a new name for things would be his style.

 Tiffany Lamps collection from maulleigh flickr

Also very note worthy in the legacy of Tiffany is the Tiffany Girls and Clara Dirscoll. As more artists were hired a small group of ladies that were hired by the company were named the Tiffany Girls. These were unmarried ladies, as it was unlawful at that time in history to work after a woman was married. And so the term ‘girls’ was chosen to describe them. One woman who has come to the forefront of history just recently is Clara Driscoll. She was a highly educated and trained designer that Tiffany hired. Under her guidance, the lovely Tiffany lamps developed a step further. Departing from the roots of geometric shapes, the ladies put some of their own touches in the lamps. Simple outlines and shapes were stunning in the beginning, but the ladies had an eye for nature. The stained glass was to reflect the natural rays of a sun set, so why not tie nature into the designs. And so a whole new age of lights were developed. Letters from Clara Driscoll to her extended family detail that “she and the girls made the Daffodil design”. Other letters talk in depth about the Dragon Fly, Wisteria, Peony, and other designs they were instrumental in turning into reality.

Due to history at that point in time, it was known that Tiffany Girls existed, but it was not until the letters from the Driscoll descendants came to light, that it was known that L.C. Tiffany and other craftsman in the employment of Tiffany were not the designers of the most popular lamps, as listed above. Today whole museum displays are now dedicated to the ingenuity and skill of these ladies.

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September 12, 2009

Tiffany lamps are so unique. There is few homes that would not benefit from owning one. The stained glass colors emanate warmth that reminds you of a cathedral. The Tiffany lamp was originally designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York. Originally as painter, his interest turned to stained glass. Then in about 1885 Tiffany had the idea of taking odd pieces of glass that were laying unused on his studio floor, and turning them into a lamp shade. The first Tiffany lamp shades were all of regular sized pieces. At the hands of the craftsman the triangles, squares, and other simple shapes began to take form.

Once a pattern was laid out, L.C. Tiffany decided to solve the problem of holding them together in a very unique and delicate way. Carefully each individual piece of glass was edged in copper foil. Then with great care each copper edged piece of glass was soldered each piece, one to the next. As this spider web of a creation was connected, a single solid concave shade resulted.

Louis Tiffany was so enamored by his creation that by the 1890’s he decided to discontinue his stain glass partnership with two other artists, and devote full time to the new lamps. This was surprising as some of his work was even commissioned for the White House and famous churches. But his intent was to continue his stained glass ventures along this new avenue.

Louis Tiffany was an inventor at heart. Back in his artist days he visited Europe and saw the huge stained glass windows of yester-year. Stained glass at that time was made from painting the glass. He returned home and approached several glass foundries about leaving the impurities in the glass. The impurities found in simple jars gave them color. Tiffany had the insight to see that color and he desired to do more glass work experiments. The foundries saw no reason to tinker with glass colors. It had taken years of work to refine higher quality glass and remove the impurities, and here is someone asking them to return to what they had just progressed away from.

L.C. Tiffanys work, Girl with Cherry Blossoms

L.C. Tiffany's Work, Girl with Cherry Blossoms

So undaunted, and backed by his own money, his father’s wealth, and many connections Tiffany opened his own glass foundry. This was all prior to his work on the Tiffany Lamps in 1885. (As implied above, the lamps were a result of his research in glass and also his stained glass window workings.) Once the plant was open he began tinkering with the glass. Some of his experiments included mixing different hot glass together. Unlike the painted stained glass, his vision was to have the color as part of the glass itself.

Some of his creations included rippled glass, and his invention of iridescent glass. To the left is one of his most famous stained glass windows. Notice the ripples in her gown, the different shades of red in the petals, and the hair and skin that look so realistic. Only a true master craftsman could have developed glass to this fine point.

The left overs from a window such as this is what the original Tiffany lamp was made from. Over time the Tiffany Studios developedfamous patterns such as the Dragon Fly, Wisteria, peony, Daffodil, and Spiderweb even available today in replicas. These styles are used in both Tiffany table lamps and Tiffany floor lamps as well as other lighting styles. Though no record was kept at the studio, one can only guess how many hours of work went into each Tiffany lamp. These are true relics of handmade wonders from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

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