Lamp Facts: Important History, Photos and Facts About Tiffany Studios Lamps

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Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933) is often associated with Tiffany & Co., the firm founded by his father, Charles Lewis Tiffany. Although Charles had hoped his son would succeed him as head of the company, Louis's interests leaned more readily toward those of an artistic nature.

Louis Tiffany began his art glass experiments in the early 1880s. On December 1, 1885, he incorporated the "Tiffany Glass Company," which in 1892 was renamed "The Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company" and then, in 1900, "Tiffany Studios." At its height, the factory employed more than three hundred workers: designers, artists, glass blowers, and numerous other artisans. Tiffany's first commercially produced lamps date from around 1898, though some examples were exhibited at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. The company remained in business until 1928. He died in 1933 at the age of 85.

Authentic vs Reproduction Lamps

There are many old and new high quality reproductions and forgeries of Tiffany Studios lamps. Many of them are so good they can fool dealers and collectors alike. Some of these have been made for more than 55 years, and they still continue to be made.

Stamps, signatures and other markings are often added to imitations both during and after production to give them the appearance of being the "real" thing. Only expert appraisers and collectors with a trained eye for Tiffany's distinctive style are qualified to distinguish one from the other.

A Few Tips and Facts on Signatures

Bases

Tiffany used bronze alloy bases on his desk, table and floor lamps. All of his metal/bronze bases will be signed on the bottom of the base plate "TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK" with a model number below that, in all upper case letters. This mark was used from about 1900–1928. The signature will be stamped into the metal. Unless the base plate was replaced, the signature should be present and readable.

The other marks sometimes found are: The "monogram mark" which also had the initials "TGDCO" (Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, 1892–1900), Tiffany Furnaces, Inc. (1902–1919), and Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces, Inc. (1920–28). The signature found 90% of the time is "TIFFANY STUDIOS, NEW YORK."

Shades

Tiffany used both leaded glass and blown glass shades. The markings for leaded glass shades (assuming they are signed) is almost always on the bottom inner metal rim edge of the shade, stamped into the metal. It should always have the words "TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK" in all capital letters. Mixed upper and lowercase fonts are not authentic signatures. Sometimes there will also be a model number to the right of the name on the rim.

Photo Examples of Signature Marks

Below are examples of authentic Tiffany Studios signature marks on both bases and shades. Use the arrows to browse, and click any photo to enlarge it for a closer look. To inquire about a lamp currently in your possession, please complete our Tiffany Lamp Assessment Form.

Types of Tiffany Lamps

Favrile Glass Lamps

Tiffany trademarked the name "Favrile" to generically describe his production. The term means handcrafted and is associated with the first and simplest shades made by Tiffany.

Geometric Glass Shades

Tiffany's geometric shades are the group of leaded glass shades with the simplest designs, including standard shapes such as squares, triangles, rectangles and ovals. Unlike his blown shades, Tiffany's geometric shades were made from pieces of poured glass which were cut in segments and edged with copper foil, then soldered together.

Floral Design Shades

The floral group is a combination of both geometric and floral shades. It includes globe-shaped shades of basic geometric design with added floral, vine, and leaf motifs. The floral group includes shades with scattered floral or leaf patterns on geometric backgrounds, and geometric shades with borders of flowers and vines.

Cone Shaped Shades

Floral patterns are used extensively in the cone shades. Cone shades are basically straight sided with circular rims. They were much easier and cheaper to make than leaded shades with curved or rounded sides. A very important design which Tiffany was fond of, which was often applied to the better cone-shaped shades, is the dragonfly.

Globe Shaped Shades

The plainer, flowered globe shades were much more difficult and detailed in their construction than cone shaped shades. Globe shades can range in size from twelve inches to twenty-eight inches in diameter. They were always the choice for large floor lamps.

"Irregular Lower Border" Shades

These shades have a much more natural form, with their flowing, meandering rims. Almost all of the shades used in the irregular border shade group are of the globe shape.

Irregular Upper & Lower Borders Group

These were the most sophisticated and complex shaped shades done by Tiffany's craftsmen. A good example of one of the finest of these shades is the Tiffany "Wisteria" pattern lamp shade, one of the most sought after and valuable of all the designs Tiffany ever produced.

For Additional Reading

• Tiffany Windows by Alastair Duncan
• Tiffany Lamps and Metalware: An Illustrated Reference to Over 2000 Models by Alastair Duncan
• The Lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany by Martin Eidelberg
• Great Art Glass Lamps: Tiffany, Duffner & Kimberly, Pairpoint, and Handel by Martin M. May
• Louis Comfort Tiffany At Tiffany & Co. by John Loring
• Behind the Scenes of Tiffany Glassmaking: The Nash Notebooks by Martin P. Eidelberg
• Lamps of Tiffany by Egon Neustadt
• Lost Treasures Of Louis Comfort Tiffany by Hugh McKean
• The Lamps of Tiffany: Highlights of the Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Collection by Robert Koch
• Louis C. Tiffany's glass-bronzes-lamps; A complete collector's guide by Robert Koch
• Tiffany at Auction by Alastair Duncan
• Masterworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany by Alastair Duncan

While we invite your inquiries and photos regarding our services and information on the lamp you have in your possession, please note: We will give you our preliminary opinion as to authenticity and a broad price range. We do not however, provide free appraisals or other specifics unless we are going to help you broker your lamp.