Lamp of the Week: 28" Laburnum

The 28" Laburnum is one of the largest Tiffany shades we create. With over 2000 individual pieces of glass, it is also one of the most time consuming shades to produce. The Laburnum has an irregular lower edge, lending an air of naturalism to the piece. For this example we combined mottled glass in tones of yellow and amber for the hanging flower clusters. Spring greens and a pale blue sky keep the shade light and airy. This shade was commissioned in 2003 by a Midwest client for use as a floor lamp. The shade also makes a stunning chandelier fixture.

Lamp Bases

At Century Studios, we always have multiple projects in production at the same time. While working on several stained glass lamp shades, we have also been busy creating lamp bases. Here is a selection of bases that we recently completed.

We created the 10 Light Flowering Lotus base (pictured above) for a Chicago client. Cast bronze lily pads ground the base while ten flower stems ascend up inside the shade, each ending in a light socket.

We have been creating pottery lamp bases with Ephraim Fiance Pottery for over 20 years, and this Budding Gourd base is a perfect compliment to any shade.

The Dandelion base is a new addition to our lamp base offerings. A variation on the Favrile Ball base, this small base has an open, airy feel. This base can be used with any 10" shade.

We featured this classic Library base last week with the 20" Poppy shade. The elegant lines of the base compliment 16", 18" and 20" shades.

Lamp of the Week: 18" Oriental Poppy

Showy flowers in full bloom spill over the decorative border rows of the 18" Oriental Poppy shade. For this example, created in 2017 for a client in California, the flowers are rendered in a striking variety of red and orange glasses. The leaves are a verdant mix of greens tinged with red, orange, and blue highlights. The shade is infused with tones of blue and purple in the sky, flower centers and border rows. Mottled glass used throughout the shade gives the piece a sun dappled appearance. The shade is shown on the sturdy 7 Handled Pottery base (22" tall).

16" Geometric Cone

With its emphasis on vertical rather than horizontal rows, the 16" Geometric Cone shade is a refreshing variation on most Tiffany geometric shade designs. As the rows widen towards the lower portion of the shade, the height of the pieces change to accommodate the shape of the shade. Commissioned by a client in California, this shade has the warmth of a glowing ember. The shade is shown on the versatile Small Stick base (20" tall).

Lamp of the Week: 18" Peony

One of our most popular shade patterns is the 18" Peony. The combination of large flowers, an unusual turban shape, and the multitude of potential color choices make this a design that will work in any decor. For this example, our client requested strong red flowers against an amber background. The resulting shade exudes a cozy warmth, especially during the bleak winter months. The shade is shown on the unusual Turtleback Band base. The illuminated base can be made with green, amber, or red turtlebacks. This lamp was commissioned by a client in Massachusetts in 2010.

20" Poppy

The 20" Poppy is one of Tiffany Studios' most successful lamp patterns. Ascending from a horizontal band of leaves, the flowers and buds rise up on slender stems represented by the vertical lead lines to fill the upper two thirds of the shade. The addition of metal filigree overlays on the flower centers and leaves give the shade added depth.

A rich amber/orange glass tinged with red and blue was chosen for the background of the shade. The flowers are a combination of reds, deep fuchsia pinks, and purples. Hints of teal in the flower centers, leaves and buds enhance the lush tones of the shade, while the olive green chosen for the borders grounds the design. The shade is shown on the elegant Library base (23.5" tall). This lamp is in a local collection.

Lamp of the Week: 18" Clematis

The 18" Clematis is a beautifully designed Tiffany shade with a non-repeating pattern. Covered in a mass of large blue and purple flowers set against a green fracture/streamer glass background, much of the glass for this shade was created by the Lins and Schlitz glass foundries. Both of these glass foundries closed in the 1990's and their glass is highly prized by stained glass artists. In addition to ring mottled and streaky glass, rippled glass appears throughout the shade in the flowers, leaves, and flower centers. The shade is shown on the Small Stick base. Created as a showroom piece in 2017, this lamp is now in a private local collection.

18 Light Lily Chandelier

This week we completed this 18 Light Lily Chandelier  for a client in Florida. We make this style of chandelier fixture in 7 Light, 12 Light, and 18 Light variations.