Lamp of the Week: Mermaid w/Nautilus Shell

Mermaids, the legendary half human/half aquatic creatures, have appeared in folklore and inspired artists of every civilization for thousands of years. The Mermaid w/Nautilus Shell is a unique Tiffany Studios lamp design. The cast bronze mermaid rises out of a churning sea carrying a lighted nautilus shell above her head. For this shade we chose a semitransparent white glass lightly mixed with blue, yellow and pink. We created this lamp in 2022 and it is in a private collection.

Chain Mail Lantern

Chain Mail Lantern hanging fixtures are one of the more unique styles of lighting designed by Tiffany Studios. Equally Moorish, Medieval, and Modern, chain mail has a light, airy appearance making it a perfect fixture for an entryway or stairwell. This fixture was created for a client in Tennessee.

Each individual piece of chain mail is created by hand in a technique that Irwin refers to as "weaving with glass and metal". Starting with a small copper framework made to Tiffany's original specifications, a piece of hand cut glass is encased within the square. During the process, the small metal loops that tie one square to the next are incorporated. As the squares are attached to one another, a "metal fabric" is created that forms the decorative curtain of the lantern. Rows of Chain Mail can also be added to the bottom of stained glass shades.

Lamp of the Week: 28" Grape

This 28" Grape design is a rare variation on the 28" Grape Trellis shade. A popular motif in Tiffany windows and lamps, we acquired the pattern from a rare original Tiffany shade in a local collection. Clusters of ripe fruit in purple, blue and red hang from the intertwining woody stems. The background is a lightly textured pale blue and the leaves are a mix of mottled and rippled glasses. We created this lamp in 2002 and it is now in a private collection in Iowa. 

25" Mandarin Lotus, Part 1

We have been working steadily on a 25" Mandarin Lotus shade. While we usually work on multiple projects concurrently, larger shades will spread out over all our work spaces, leaving no room for other projects until we reach the point of soldering. This shade has an undulating accordion-pleated surface that requires a precise fit. The pieces have been cut and the fit has been checked on the form. Bill Campbell is shown foiling the shade, which will continue this coming week.

Lamp of the Week: 20" Acorn

The generous proportions of the 20" Acorn shade give this lamp a commanding presence. The "acorn" pattern was originally designed as a "leaf border", but the nut inspired moniker has become the accepted name for this pattern. This large geometric shade was made in tones of green mixed with yellow in 2012 for a client in Boston. The shade is shown on the willowy Twisted Vine base (25.5" tall).

16" Bamboo

We have completed the 16" Bamboo lamp for a local client. Strong vertical stalks of bamboo support long leaves that gently drape across the surface of the shade. The smokey blue background gives the piece the feel of a tranquil misty morning.

Each of the long leaves has been slumped in a kiln (see our blog post from July 28, 2024). 

The shade is mated with the Bamboo table base. This base can be used with any 16" shade, but it is especially appropriate with the 16" Bamboo shade. We are also pleased to introduce the 3" Bamboo Cap to our line of reproduction Tiffany hardware. We now make all three sizes of bamboo caps that Tiffany offered - 3", 5" and 6".

Lamp of the Week: 28" Lemon Tree w/Birds

The 28" Lemon Tree with Birds is a Century Studios original shade design by Bill Campbell. This generously proportioned shade takes its inspiration from a Tiffany Studios pictorial wall mosaic. Groupings of blue and yellow birds nestle among tree branches laden with ripening fruit. This example has a tropical color palette with a strong emphasis on yellow, green, and turquoise. The rich browns of the intertwining tree branches and shots of blue in the birds add definition to the color scheme. This shade  was created for a client in Pennsylvania in 2016, and has been installed as a chandelier fixture over a table.

16" Peacock

The 16" Peacock is a lively lamp design. The surface of the shade is completely covered in a swirling mass of peacock tail feathers. The rhythmic movement of the feathers has been enhanced by the subtle blending of bold color tones. Blue, purple, and green hypnotize the viewer into the ever deepening swirls while the "eyes" of the feathers punctuate the flow, providing a visual resting place.

Created for a client in Connecticut, the Small Stick base (20" tall) perfectly complements the shade.

Lamp of the Week: 20" Nasturtium

One of the more unusually shaped shades created by Tiffany Studios is the 20" Nasturtium. The low dome mimics how the nasturtium plant climbs about in the garden, trailing over rocks creating mounds of riotously colorful flowers peaking through large saucer shaped leaves. Inspired by the playfulness of the plant we chose a vibrant color scheme of mottled, streaky and textured glasses for the shade. Shown on the Twisted Vine base (24.5" tall), we created this lamp in 2018 and it is now in a private home in New York.