What is a Tiffany Lamp?
Louis Comfort Tiffany began designing and producing the Tiffany lamps in the late 1880s, and continued until his death in 1933. Everything Tiffany did from concept to finished product was incredibly different from what anyone had done before. From creating his own colored glass, to being one of the first to produce electric lighting fixtures in conjunction with Thomas Edison himself, there was nothing Tiffany did not do to set himself apart from the rest. Tiffany prided himself in doing a good job, working hard and making products with quality that would last.
The first of his lamps were constructed by soldering pieces of cut, colored glass that was left over from some stained glass windows he had made years earlier. Using a carbide glass cutter and breaker-grozier pliers to break and finish the glass pieces in a controlled fashion. Tiffany would cut the various types and colors of glass according to the pattern he designed.
After cutting the glass, Tiffany would thoroughly clean each piece and apply copper foil to the edges. Once the copper foil was applied and the pieces were laid out according to the pattern design, Tiffany would solder each piece together, creating an end-piece that was a solid weld. The technique Tiffany used was called the Copper Foil Method, which allowed the melted copper foil to encase the edge of every piece of glass, creating a lamp shade that consisted of a single, solid wire. A final cleaning was done after the soldering to remove any dust or solder residue and bring out the vibrant colors of the glass pieces.
Today it is very difficult to find an authentic Tiffany lamp, especially with some going for $2 million dollars on the auction block. The authentic Tiffany Lamps are well worth the money some would spend on them. After all they have lasted over 100 years and for anything made of glass that is quite a feat.
If 2 million big ones is not your cup of tea though, there are many Tiffany-inspired lamps on the market for far less. Tiffany lamps come in a wide variety ranging through table lamps, wall sconces, chandeliers, torchieres, or hanging lamps. Characterized by the stained glass hoods and decorative bases, the Tiffany Lamps have beat the test of time and have given us an easy, artistic way to brighten our homes and offices with colorful designs from years past.
Not only was Louis Comfort Tiffany the first to design lamps to become part of the fine art movement called Art Nouveau, but he also developed his own method for staining the glass. This process of melting down glass and adding various chemicals to create specific colors was patented as Favrile, derived from a French word meaning handcrafted.
It’s no wonder that Louis Comfort Tiffany was successful, as the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany – the founder of Tiffany & Co. the world-renowned jewelry store.
The Tiffany legacy lives on through their dedication to superior products and service.
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