Tiffany style lamps were created by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late 1800s. Louis Comfort Tiffany was the oldest son of Charles Tiffany, founder of the celebrated jewelry chain Tiffany and Company. Louis Comfort Tiffany was a painter and was considered by art experts as exceptionally talented with watercolors and oils. After traveling the world in his pursuit of fine art, he became immensely interested in Medieval glass and began to experiment with his own colored glass creations. This lead to an interest in interior design, which ultimately resulted in one of the most popular lamp styles in history; the Tiffany lamp.
In 1885, Louis Tiffany formed his own company, independent of his father, which focused almost entirely on the manufacturing of colored glass products. He used specific techniques to create panes that featured colors and tones not previously seen in household glass. He was well pleased when he found a way to manufacture his exceptionally beautiful stained-glass windows in miniature style. These were used in the production of what became the first Tiffany lampshades. Tiffany lamps were sold with filament bulbs that served to light the stained glass shades and produce an exquisite and unusual appearance wherever they were used.
The primary allure of Tiffany lamps is their uniqueness. When Louis Tiffany was alive, each lamp was hand assembled, which resulted in no two lamps looking exactly alike. In addition, diversity in the glass panels themselves made each lamp truly unique.
Original Tiffany lamps were produced until 1920, and since then, many companies have recreated these exceptionally beautiful lamps, which have never truly gone out of style. In 1958, when certain of Louis Tiffany's paintings were placed in various museums and private collections, his lamps gained dramatic popularity with art lovers worldwide. Currently, a genuine Tiffany lamp may cost as much as 2 million dollars.
The Tiffany style lamps seen in modern department stores have a very similar look to the lamps made in the 1800s by Louis Tiffany. This style typically features a base of polished brass and a decorative shade comprised of several panels of colored glass in different sizes and shapes. Some shade patterns are random while others Feature specific designs.
Trends in home interior design come and go, and what may have been popular five years ago is now obsolete. It is for this reason that many homeowners feel it is wise to select items that are regarded as timeless when decorating a home. Tiffany style lamps have a classic appeal that will never go out of style and they will add beauty and charm to any home in which they are placed.
