Guide to Collecting Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany lamps are unique works of art that have been popular among collectors and art enthusiasts since the late 1800s. Their unique craftsmanship featuring artfully stained glass shades and sturdy bronze bases makes them incredibly valuable and highly sought after. When the manufacturing of authentic Tiffany Studios lamps stopped in the early 20th century, many manufacturers began replicating these rare finds.

Tiffany-style lamps closely mimic the look of the original Tiffany lamps, making it hard to tell them apart from the real deal. In this guide, we share all the unique features of original Tiffany lamps to ensure you collect authentic vintage Tiffany Studios lamps, not replicas. You'll also discover where you can buy a Tiffany lamp if you'd like to add this gem to your antique collection.

Origin of Tiffany Lamps

The iconic Tiffany lamps were invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the founder and lead craftsman at Tiffany Studios and the son of the founder of Tiffany & Co.

Louis Comfort Tiffany ventured into glass making in New York between 1878 and 1933. He smoldered cheap glass bottles to create colored and textured glass windows, lamps and vases.

The production of Tiffany lamps started with the creation of blown glass at the Tiffany Glass Furnaces in Corona, Queens. Tiffany incorporated the leaded blown glass shades into his interior design works. Over time, he ventured into creating an entire line of lamps. The Tiffany lamp designs were heavily inspired by nature. They blended different colors to create iridescence and were attached using the copper foil technique.

Designers at Tiffany Studios handcrafted each lamp to create intricate and delicate designs that have remained current and stylish for over a century. They started by drawing the lamps on heavy cardboard, labeling the pattern pieces with a number and glass color before laying the glass over the drawing and tracing the patterns. To bring the creations to life, the colored glass pieces were cut and soldered using strips of copper foil.

Tiffany Lamps Design Styles

Tiffany lamps were generally considered Art Nouveau, which majorly embraced curves and 3D forms. They were often inspired by nature and featured motifs such as dragonflies, butterflies, lilies, wisterias, peacocks, fish and poppies. Most Tiffany lamp styles fall into these major design categories:

• Geometric shades: These Tiffany lampshades feature the simplest shapes, such as squares, triangles and rectangles. They often look like they were designed using tiny glass tiles. The Tiffany Studios Geometric Table Lamp is a great example.
• Floral shades: These leaded glass shades mimicked blooms like daffodils, poppies and peonies. They also featured vines and leaf motifs, and some included textured floral borders. The Tiffany Studios Oriental Poppy Chandelier is one of the most demanded floral lampshades, and it is worth approximately $665,000.
• Jeweled feather shades: These come in a teardrop-like design and include vertical patterns and other geometric shapes. A good example is the Tiffany Jeweled Feather Table Lamp, which is well-loved by collectors and art enthusiasts.
• Favrile glass shades: These were made using the pioneer Tiffany glassblowing technique. They have a shimmering, opalescent appearance and are available in various colors, shapes, styles and sizes. The Tiffany Studios Favrile Glass Candle Lamp is a collectors' favorite.
• Figural motif shades: These leaded Tiffany glass lampshades are inspired by animals and insects like butterflies, peacocks and dragonflies. Some also feature aquatic motifs, and the base of figural motif shades are 3D figurines and sculptures. Many collectors would love to get their hands on one, such as the Tiffany Studios Leaded Glass Aquatic Fish Lamp.
• Linenfold shades: Among the simplest Tiffany lamp shade designs is the linenfold, which resembles long panels of pleated fabric. The Tiffany Studios New York Linenfold Double Student Lamp is worth adding to your Tiffany lamp collection.
• Overlay shades: These feature a Tiffany stained glass liner with an intricate bronze overlay. They are crafted in different designs, often floral. The Tiffany Studios Blown Glass “Grapevine” Desk Lamp is a popular overlay shade.

Types of Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany lamps exist in different forms beyond table lamps. Some common Tiffany lamp styles include:

• Table and desk lamps: These relatively small lamps are designed to fit perfectly and accentuate desks, side tables and other furniture.
• Floor lamps: These large lamps sit on a long bronze base. Their upward-facing, flute-shaped lampshades can light a whole room.
• Hanging shades and chandeliers: Tiffany hanging lampshades are large lighting centerpieces in upward- and downward-facing styles.
• Wall sconces: These aesthetic lighting fixtures add ambient lighting to a room.

How to Tell Real From Fake

While verifying an original Tiffany lamp is best left to a trained and experienced appraiser, a few telltale signs can help you spot the real lamps in marketplaces crowded with Tiffany-style lamps. The main features differentiating Tiffany lamps from Tiffany-style lamps include:

Condition

With lamps that are over 100 years old, you can't expect perfection, so a brilliant, shiny and new Tiffany style lamp is probably a reproduction. You can expect a few cracks, scratches and some wear to the patina. These, however, if minor, do not affect the quality or value of a Tiffany lamp — in fact, they're a sign of originality.

Craftsmanship

The handcrafting and glass making of Tiffany lamps ensured no two lamps were exactly alike. So, the uniqueness and rarity of the designs and glass color can help you tell real from fake lamps. If a seller has several “Tiffany" lamps featuring the exact same designs, whether premium-priced or not, you should be wary.

You can also identify reproductions by checking for signs of paint, improper attachments and extremely secure attachments, which means no rattling on the shades. The glass on authentic Tiffany lamps slightly shakes or rattles when you tap it lightly.

The Base

Tiffany lamp bases were often made from pure bronze. Because pure bronze was expensive, the bases were hollow and had a heavy lead ring at the bottom. The lead ring helped support the heavy, stained Tiffany glass shades and prevented them from toppling or falling over.

With years of use, these bases have collected marks of authenticity in the form of patina — a slightly brown or green hue. Patina results from oxidation and represents degradation in the pure metal.

Marks and Signatures

When Tiffany Studios was in operation, it used different marks and signatures on its lamps. These marks can be used to prove authenticity. The signature inconsistencies make it difficult to verify original Tiffany lamps based on these criteria alone.

Some common marks and signatures used were “Tiffany Studios / New York” or the TG&DC monogram. Others included the model number, while a few did not have any marks at all.

Where to Buy Authentic Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany lamps are rare, and you can only find them in a handful of places. Some of the best places to buy Tiffany lamps include:

• Auction houses
• Antique stores
• Estate sales
• Fine art dealerships

Many Tiffany lamps are owned by only one person or family because they're valuable heirloom art pieces. Some collectors are lucky enough to purchase Tiffany lamps from the original owners or children who inherited them from parents and other family members. Either way, you must request a money-back guarantee, provenance, pre-auction catalog or necessary paperwork showing who it belonged to for authentication.

However you intend to acquire your Tiffany lamps, an expert appraiser will help you determine whether your lamps are genuine Tiffany products.

Find Authentic Tiffany Lamps at Fontaine's Auction Gallery

At Fontaine's Auction Gallery, we have over six decades of experience buying and selling Tiffany Studios lamps. We have accessible auctions worldwide and hold many Tiffany lamp auctions throughout the year. We understand the importance of convenience for our customers, so we offer flexible bidding options, including in-person, online, over-the-phone and absentee.

Visit our website to learn more about our bidding styles and explore upcoming auctions to see if we have what you're looking for.