Throughout the centuries, great glass makers have changed the way we see glass, using a combination of traditional techniques and groundbreaking ideas. One such inspirational man was Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933). Tiffany had decided at a young age to dedicate himself "to the pursuit of beauty". Although he trained as an artist in the 1860s his first business venture was as an interior designer. But while painting, Tiffany had become fascinated by the qualities of glass, especially the way it refracted light.
Archaeologists across Europe had unearthed numerous pieces of Roman glass that had become iridescent as a result of exposure to chemicals and mineral deposits in the soil or sand during centuries underground. The chemicals had corroded the surface of the glass, giving it a lustrous, rainbow-like appearance that changed color depending on how the light hit it. Inspired by these archaeological finds, glass makers tried to recreate this finish. The technique involved dissolving salts of metallic oxides in the molten glass, thereby creating the luminous colors. The glass was then held in a reducing flame and sprayed with chloride. This caused the surface to form a series of tiny lines that refracted light. This highly complex and skilled technique became the Tiffany hallmark and turned glass from a utilitarian product into a work of art.
The popularity of this iridescent glass was helped by the introduction of domestic electric lighting, which showed the colors and the sparkling iridescence of the glass to the best effect. A flick of a switch could change purple to red, blue to brown, and green to yellow. The aim was to reproduce the subtle play of light, color, shade, tone and texture found in nature. Skilled colorists recreated these effects in a range of stained glass Tiffany lamps using fibrillated and striated glass for the sky, rippled glass for the sheen on a dragonfly wing, and fractured glass for a sunset or a flower. The colors of the shade and the complexity of its design, as well as the form and design of the base, are what determine the value.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was thus able to fulfill his desire to bring beauty into the average home. The original Tiffany lamps are now much sought-after collector's pieces. However, the Tiffany style lives on and many homes can add that touch of class and beauty by purchasing a modern reproduction Tiffany style lamp.
These stained glass Tiffany style lamps have a classic timeless look that gives any home a touch of elegance and quality. They help create an atmosphere of calm and comfort, a warm welcome home at the end of a long day. The variety of colors and tones in these stained glass Tiffany lamps blend effortlessly with almost any decor and add that extra touch of quality to any home. They are the complement to all your carefully chosen furnishings that reflect your own unique personality.