Tiffany lamps – delighting home owners for generations

Tiffany lamps were famous the world over for their exquisite designs and craftsmanship. These lamps are created from broken pieces of stained glasses which are carefully cut and joined with each other by hand as per a detailed design to form the shape of a lamp shade. The lamps are very colourful and can brighten up any room where they are placed.

The original Tiffany lamps were produced by an American Mr. Louis Comfort Tiffany over a century ago. These lamps derive their value and reputation from the very difficult process of producing them. Not many people are able to produce it because of the expertise required, hence the value of these have steadily gone up over the years. Nowadays, several companies have started producing clones with the designs invented by Tiffany, and some of them are as good as the originals.

Tiffany is known to have invented many of the designs as part of experiments. These lampshades came in different shapes and sizes and were works of art in themselves. He produced table lamps, hanging lamps, floor lamps, and scores of other lamps. There are companies in Melbourne which offer lamps made with the following designs which the Tiffany lamps used.

Various styles available:

• Wisteria: these lamps resembled wisteria trees, and they remain as one of the most popular designs which Tiffany used. Original Tiffany lamps using Wisteria tree design, command a price of millions of dollars in auctions today.
• Geometric: Tiffany lamps of various geometric shapes are available in Melbourne. Designs made out of geometric shapes include spider web, Turtle back, seashell, etc. these are made of colourful glass cut in a combination of geometric shapes like squares, rectangles, and triangles etc. these domes are symmetrical and relatively easy to make.
• Domes of the shape of flowers and plants:Many lamps available in Melbourne resemble flowers and plants. These are stylish and symmetrical. The commonly available lamps of this type are red tulip, double red lotus, Sabino rose, red rose, red flower, pink flower, lies in the Lily, green confetti etc.
• Bird, insect and animals: Tiffany was greatly influenced by the shapes of creatures like birds, insects, etc. the lamps created in these shapes are beautiful and much in demand. Much like the creatures they resemble, these lamps are very colourful. Some common lamps in this category resemble butterfly, Hummingbird, dragonfly, tortoise, frog and elephant.

Where to buy:

Since the original Tiffany workshop closed down in the 1930s, several other stained glass design studios have started producing replicas of Tiffany lamps in Melbourne. The original Tiffany lamps now cost more than a few million dollars and are available only through auctions. For those who want to decorate their houses with the Tiffany lamps, purchasing one which is manufactured by contemporary workshops is more feasible. In Melbourne, there are a few workshops which make these Tiffany lamps. Almost all of the original designs are available for sale there. The residents of Melbourne can visit the showrooms of the studios and choose a Tiffany lamp that they like.

John Tray is a prolific writer whose articles and write-ups mainly focus on outdoor water feature Melbourne. Being an interior designer by profession, he also highlights on the use of different types of Artificial plants Melbourne.