Louis Comfort Tiffany was the first to design the lamps that are today broadly termed “Tiffany lamps“. True Tiffany lamps and excellent museum quality reproductions can cost thousands. The good news is, even if you don’t want to spend lots of money, you can find lovely Tiffany style lamps for less than you probably imagine.
When you think of a Tiffany lamp, you may imagine a classic design like those that incorporate poppies, dragonflies, or peacock feathers. Maybe you think of some of the geometrically styled Mission glass that makes up some of the most popular modern Tiffany designs.
In fact, table lamps in this style, come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and colours. One of the things people love most about lamps with Tiffany styling is that they blend seamlessly with other furnishings to make any room look complete and comfortable. Some of the most popular table lamps have cone style glass shades, and others have globes. Floral globes and cones incorporate elements like clematis, peony, poppy and even grapes and leaves. Dragonfly lamps are also extremely popular.
There are also some accent lamps available, which are smaller copies of larger table lamps. They make great night lights, and offer splendid visual interest to a room. There are even accent lamps with fully enclosed sculptures, such as turtles, frogs, fish, swans and peacocks. If you love to decorate for Christmas, you’ll be thrilled – you can even get a Tiffany Santa Claus.
Although most of us think of the classic table lamps with stained glass lamp shades when we think of a Tiffany lamp, you can also purchase floor lamps in Tiffany style and these are very popular. Some send light upward, torchiere style, and others are simply taller representations of popular table lamp designs.
The intricacy of the tiffany designs makes them especially prone to gathering dust. Some of the plainest designs can be dusted, while more elaborate designs, especially those depicting dragonflies and other creatures, need more intensive cleaning. Dust rags can snag on certain design elements, so it may be easiest to very carefully remove the shade, wash it by hand in warm water with mild detergent, and hand dry it completely. Never put a Tiffany lamp shade in the dishwasher!
Most Tiffany lamps are very heavy, and hard to knock over. If you’re concerned that a lamp may tip, use museum wax to fix the base to the table where it sits. You can block floor lamps in by placing heavy plants near their bases, which can provide even better accentuation.