The Tiffany-style lamp and the Tiffany lamp shade are an American symbol of beauty and functionality. These were pioneered by Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of the founder of the Tiffany and Co. In collaboration with Thomas Edison, he made the first Tiffany Studios lamps in the mid 1890s. Tiffany-style lamps are a mainstay for sophisticated, elegant interior decor. They are prominent examples of the art nouveau movement and are usually made of some type of glass on a metal base or stand.
Tiffany, the creative force of this enterprise, employed hundreds of master craftsmen and designers. Tiffany Studios produced thousands of lamps in hundreds of designs. Tiffany adapted his glass tiffany lamp shades from his world famous stained-glass window designs, making the connecting lead rods that surround each piece of glass an integral part of his artistic composition.
Deciding he could produce his exquisite stained-glass windows in miniature form to serve as lampshades for the new filament bulb of Thomas Edison. This bulb would beautifully illuminate the stained glass, night or day. In the 1890’s demand for stained glass windows in America was fuelled by religious energy together with an increasingly large and wealthy middle class. This wealthy middle class wanted to purchase items to adorn their homes with beautiful objects. His legacy is best seen today in the huge interest and development of work in stained glass items of all types. Tiffany made his most impressive mark on the art scene by designing stained glass windows, lamps, mosaics and other fine decorative jewelry.
Today, tiffany lamp shades are available in many sizes, styles and quality of materials. By adding a tiffany styled lamp shade you can create an elegant feature in a room. There are many types to choose from: tiffany floor lamps, tiffany accent lamps, tiffany desk lamps and tiffany swag lamps.
Home crafters have found many hours of pleasure in creating their own handmade tiffany lamp shades. The skills required are substantial – but there are numerous resources on line in right in your community to help you learn this fascinating craft. The satisfaction of designing and then cutting out the glass, along with the detailed assembly process can lead to much personal joy and sense of accomplishment.
Clearly, the modern home decorator has many ways to use the tiffany lamp shades. Many rooms are set up as special purpose – home theater, pool/billiard, nursery, dining and etc. Each of these can have custom tiffany lamp shades to further enhance the theme of the room. You can easily have your favorite sports team logo, or for children lamps in the shape of ladybugs or butterflies. These long lasting and beautiful items can become family heirlooms and be passed down through the generations.
Below are examples of the types of tiffany lamp shades you can get:
Tiffany table lamp 3 lights glass lighted base victorian design shade