‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ and that seems to be very true in the case of Tiffany lamps. Tiffany-style lamps are one of the best ways to light a room in a stylish, elegant, inspirational, vibrant and classic way.

Tiffany lamps owe their very existence to the renowned painter and Art Nouveau designer of his times, Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933). Louis Tiffany was the son of the famous jeweller Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co. However, Louis’ passion to create awe-inspiring decorative designs led to the creation of the ornate interior design company, Tiffany Glass House, which was later named Tiffany Studios.

In 1893, Louis Tiffany obtained the patent for Favrile (type of iridescent art) glass, which included a range of glasses from the simplest shades to those used in the making of stained-glass windows.

The first Tiffany lamp made in 1895 is believed to be designed by Clara Driscoll, a director at the Tiffany Studios. Of late, it has been discovered that it was Clara Driscoll, who actually created many of the signature lamps, including the first daffodil, the classic Wisteria, Dragonfly and Peony designs that are in demand to this day.

An authentic Tiffany lamp is a rare antique piece, generally costing a fortune. The original antique pieces are very expensive; ‘The Pink Lotus’ lamp was sold for a whopping USD2.8 million at a Christie’s auction in 1998.

Tiffany lamps are handcrafted, not machine-made. Making of the lamp is labour-intensive and artisans spend a lot of time to hand-cut and polish the pieces of glass.  This is one of the reasons why these lamps are quite expensive.

Tiffany lamps have a bronze base while their glass shades are embellished with colourful patterns, often influenced by nature. Once the artist creates the design, a wooden replica is created. The designs are traced on a thick paper, cloth or cardboard and then cut into shapes. These are used as templates to cut the coloured glass into small pieces. After completion of this step, the lamps are made by fusing hundreds of hand-cut glass pieces together using the innovative copper foil technique. A good-quality handcrafted lamp has a waxy texture and creates a dull sound, often misinterpreted as being plastic.

These lamps continue to be popular long after the death of its creator Louis Tiffany. Today, the market is buoyant with good quality reproduction of Tiffany lamps and Tiffany-style lamps that are much more affordable than the antique lamps.  These lamps are available in many different forms including table lamps, pedestal fixtures, floor lamps, wall lamps, accent lamps, hanging lamps and ceiling fixtures.

Tiffany lamps are generally grouped into the following lamp style categories:

         Favrile - Handcrafted and refers to the first shades inspired by nature and created by Louis Tiffany

         Geometric - Symmetrical repetitive patterns incorporated with striking colours

         Irregular upper and lower borders – Open work crown that looks like branches of a tree

         Transition to flowers - Globe-shaped shades with botanical themes

         Flowered cone and globe - Easier to create with the lavish use of botanical patterns

In spite of numerous lamps available in the market, Tiffany lamps have proved to be timeless and popular possessions because of their style, handcrafted details and unique designs. Tiffany lamps come in a range of shades, styles and designs and delightfully offer a unique experience in household lighting.