The tiffany lamp is a decorative art icon that has been admired for more than 100 years. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s lamp is a fixture in both museums and living rooms. It is known for its handcrafted craftsmanship and stained glass shade. We will be looking at the rich history of this design to help you understand its lasting legacy.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, a New York City native, was born in 1848. Tiffany was the youngest son of Charles Lewis Tiffany (the founder of Tiffany & Co. jewelry retailer). He was exposed to design and decorative art at a young stage. This influence led to a career that covered many different fields. He said, “I have always tried to fix beauty in wood and stone, pottery, or glass, in oil, or watercolor, by using whatever was most appropriate for the expression. That has been my belief.
Tiffany originally trained as an artist. After seeing a collection made of Roman glass in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Tiffany became interested in glassmaking in his 20s.
Tiffany was attracted to the rustic beauty of the old glass, a quality that many contemporary glass artists reject. These imperfections were Tiffany’s favorite way to achieve eye-catching colors. He explained that rich tones can be due to pot metal with impurities, and in part to the uneven thickness, but more importantly, because the glassmaker of that day resisted the use paint.
Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company
Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company was established in 1885. Tiffany was a glass producer who experimented with texture and tone. He was inspired by the glass of Ancient Rome and sought to create vibrant pieces of glass without using paint or enamel. He developed two key innovations to achieve this: favrile glass and the copper foil.
Tiffany Lamps Today
Although Tiffany lamps were out of fashion and discontinued production by 1913, their popularity resurged in the 1950s. They have been a collector’s favorite, appearing in private collections and auction houses. Some thrifters even found them in unassuming antique shops or flea markets.
Arlie Sulka , Tiffany appraiser, says that there are “things that were documented that haven’t surfaced for a century.” I believe they will. We are always looking for new things. Actually, I’m having lots of fun right now as some amazing things are coming out the woodwork.”