Louis Comfort Tiffany popularized stained glass lamps with his beautiful lamps made between the early 1850s and the mid 1930s at his Tiffany Studio in New York. Replicas and Tiffany-inspired lamps made after the 1930s may be beautiful, but they are not authentic. How can you spot an authentic Tiffany lamp?
First, be aware that Tiffany made six types of lamps: floor, desk, hanging shade, wall sconce, table, and chandelier. If the lamp you’re inspecting isn’t one of the aforementioned then it is not an authentic Tiffany lamp. Second, a Tiffany floor lamp would have been crafted by hand, meaning there would have been minor imperfections and variations. If the lamp you’re inspecting is perfectly smooth with no flaws, then it is not authentic. Finally, look for “Tiffany Studios New York” or L.C.T. CO. marks that can be found on the bottom rim of authentic shades.
My grandmother recently moved to an assisted living facility. It was difficult for her to leave the house she had raised her children in and lived in with my grandfather until his death a few years ago; however, given her deteriorating health, staying in a big house by herself was not a safe option. Her treasures that she’s accumulated over the years will not fit in her new living space, so she decided to divvy them up among her grandchildren as housewarming presents.
My sister, an enthusiastic entertainer, received grandma’s good china. My brother was given my grandfather’s antique model train collection. I think I lucked out because grandma gifted me two matching Tiffany accent lamps that will look lovely in my formal sitting room. I’ll have to take a picture of the lamps on display to show my grandma next time I visit. I know it will make her happy to see that her treasures are being well looked after.
In 1918, the esteemed designer Louis Comfort Tiffany founded the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation, commonly referred to as simply the Tiffany Foundation. The foundation was established to operate Louis’ estate, Laurelton Hall, located in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Artists and craftspeople were invited to use the estate as a summer retreat.
After WWII Laurelton Hall was closed and the foundation changed its purpose to awarding grants to artists. Some notable Tiffany grant recipients include Karen LaMont, who has a permanent collection in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Paul Meltsner, who was famous for his portraits and murals. Marc Trujillo, a Guggenheim fellow, has also been a Tiffany grant recipient.
Though many consumers are familiar with the value of their Tiffany lamps, not everyone knows how to properly care for the antique lighting fixtures. Tiffany lamps made from lithophane porcelain in particular are often left to gather dust, as the owners are too afraid of damaging the detail work. With the right instructions, you can feel confident in caring for your gorgeous lamps.
When cleaning lithophane porcelain Tiffany lamps, begin by unplugging the lamps from the wall. Mix together four cups of warm water with a few drops of mild dish detergent. Dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and firmly, but gently, rub the porcelain portions of the lamps. With a clean, dry cloth, dry the lamps.
For many people, cleaning a Tiffany lamp is a daunting task. Essentially, they are worried that if they use the wrong cleaner or rub too hard damage will be done to the lamp’s delicate glass. With the right knowledge; however, you can keep a Tiffany lamp in mint condition.
First, you need to determine the type of glass used in the lamp’s creation. For a Tiffany lamp made from opaque stained glass, art glass, or jade stone use oil-based furniture cleaner. Simply squeeze a small amount of the cleaner onto a clean rag and gently rub the surface of the lamp. The oil should be worked into the glass and excess dirt should be removed.
Soft, glowing light is peaceful and romantic. It can be achieved with candles or a dimmer, but perhaps the most beautiful way to achieve it is to use a Tiffany style chandelier. A Tiffany style chandelier is handcrafted using the same techniques that were developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the early 1900s. It is made of hand-cut pieces of stained glass, each wrapped in fine copper foil and then artfully soldered together. The colors in each chandelier, like yellow, orange, red and green, glow softly to add a calming ambiance to any room.
My mother has a beautiful Tiffany chandelier in her dining room and she absolutely loves it. Guests always compliment it and it creates the perfect glow to add atmosphere to get-togethers. It adds a touch of elegance to her log-cabin style home, and illuminates the solid wood beams much more attractively than a harsh white light. Look into Tiffany style lighting as a chandelier for your next decorating venture today.
When you visit a Tiffany & Company store you are getting more than the average shopping experience. Tiffany is one of the most well known jewelry and silverware companies in the United States. For decades their products have been featured in the homes of the rich and famous.
The flagship Tiffany store opened in New York City in 1940 on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan. Today Tiffany has stores all around the world. The company is still regarded as one of the top producers of jewelry, silverware and furniture. Show your love of history and the finer things by displaying unique Tiffany table lamps in your home.
Sometimes overhead lighting is necessary. I have a very small apartment with only one small window. It gets really dark during the winter. Reading is my favorite past time, but my eyes get strained when I try to read in my dimly-lit apartment. My main sources of light were a small kitchen-ceiling lamp and floor lamp.
I realized that in order to indulge in my reading, I would have to get some tiffany style hanging lamps. I wouldn’t usually choose overhead lights, but it turned out they worked really well to brighten up my apartment. It was a comfort to know that I could read any time I wanted.
While other types of lighting are quite simple, with some casting a harsher light, there are unique desk lamps that offer extra decorative touch and illuminates softer lights. In many scenarios, a lamp not only is a means of illumination but also serves as decoration for a room.
When you need a desk lamp for a room in your home and your design needs are simple, a casually traditional elegant desk lamp is likely your best option. Most traditional lamps have a slightly nostalgic feel about them. Some are adorned with jeweled fringe around the bottom of the cloth shades. Others are minimalistic with white shades and a black base. Often a traditional desk lamp can have a bit of style and flair like the type with cross lattice shades or lamps with a twig or rattan theme. If you are looking with something with a more decorative appeal, consider tiffany desk lamps. With many choices in unique desk lamps that are out in the market, finding your desired desk lamp can be very exciting and convenient.
Use Lighting to Create Your Mood of Choice
Let’s face it; there are millions of different opinions about how to create a warm and inviting indoor space. Whether it’s through Feng Shui, updated lighting, or a new coat of paint, there are several proven methods to make a room look better. But for people on a budget, it’s possible to create a unique indoor atmosphere with just a few simple changes. One simple solution to update a space is with pendant lighting.
Pendant lights provide a chic, modern look while still serving as a pragmatic lighting source. You can make a dramatic change to the dynamic of a space with some new window treatments to diffuse the natural light and reserve the pendants for the nighttime. Tiffany style pendant lights come in several different colors and designs, and it’s possible to use lanterns with different kinds of shades to diffuse the light.