Lotus (or Water-lily) table lamp

Tiffany lamps are a coveted item within the interior design world.  They are cherished pieces that usually become heirlooms, passed down through the family.  The Tiffany lamp’s beautifully elaborate form has been revered for many decades and this style continues to be popular today.

The origins of the Tiffany lamp dates back to the 1880’s, when Louis Comfort Tiffany introduced the style of lamp through his interior design business.  Louis was the eldest son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, legendary founder of the jewellery firm, Tiffany and Co.  Uninterested in being directly involved with the family business, Louis became known for his art, interior design and gardening talents.  Tiffany was intent on bring decorative arts to the same level as the fine arts.  After studying art in New York, Louis travelled to Paris where he was hugely influenced by the Art Nouveau style.  He conceived of the idea by using discarded pieces of glass arranged in decorative designs.  Strictly by chance, while working on the very first movie theatre, Tiffany teamed up with Thomas Edison, and the two began creating electric fixtures together.

During the early 1900’s, the popularity of Tiffany lamps grew so much, that Louis hired workers who eventually became known as “Tiffany Girls”.  These unwed women worked in the Glass Cutting department.  Of those women, one in particular rose to the top.  Clara Driscoll became the director and designer of some of the most popular designs we see today.  In the 1920’s, the popularity of these lamps dwindles due to the onset of the modern design styles.  Most agreed that they were too ornate to work in modern and contemporary rooms.

Unfortunately, in 1930 Tiffany was forced to close his doors and three years later passed away.  However, the popularity of his work saw a resurgence in the 1950’s and 60’s, and Tiffany lamps are still popular today.  Many companies offer reproductions of the originals.  Original Louis Comfort Tiffany lamps have sold at auction for $2 million apiece.  Louis Comfort Tiffany was a man of brilliance whose range and versatility are still appreciated today.  His unique vision and talent are apparent in every authentic Tiffany lamp, as well as in the knock-offs that pay him homage.