Happy Holidays!

 

 

Happy Holidays from Century Studios!

We are closed for the holidays and will resume regular business hours on Tuesday January 5th.

 

Studio Hours

 

This 22" Poinsettia was created in 2015 as a showroom lamp and is now in a private collection. The exuberant design has a double row of poinsettias bursting forth from a multi-tiered trellis. A variety of reds tinged with blue, purple, and yellow were blended together for the plants. The light blue background glass at the top of the shade deepens to purple and amber. Unifying these colors is the multicolored trellis glass with its hints of blue, amber, and green. The shade is shown on the elegant Artichoke Trumpet base (24" tall).

As we look forward to the new year, Century Studios is winding down 2020. 

Our studio hours are:

Sunday Dec 20 & Monday Dec 21 - Closed

Tuesday Dec 22 & Wed Dec 23 - Open 10 - 5

Thursday Dec 24 through Monday January 4 - Closed

Tuesday January 5 - Resume regular business hours

Lamp of the Week: 18" Poinsettia

 

 

The 18" Poinsettia shade features an unusual trellised background, which gives the design an "in the garden" feel. A bold blue background glass sets off lush red and green foliage that forms the wide decorative border. The trellis is rendered in a heavily mottled green glass while the two rippled green horizontal border rows add a spark of brightness.

The shade is shown on the Mockturtle base. This base has a great three dimensional look and works well with any 16" to 20" shade. We created this shade in 2008 for a client in Illinois. 

Bamboo Table Base

 

Century Studios is pleased to announce the addition of the Large Bamboo table base to our line of reproduction Tiffany metalwork. The heavy bronze casting is highly detailed to look like a thick shaft of bamboo. At 27" tall, this base is perfectly proportioned to for use with any 22" shade, like the 22" Geometric Brickwork shade shown below.

 

Lamp of the Week: 28" Poinsettia

 

 

Considered a decorative holiday plant, poinsettias are flowering perennial shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall in natural settings. The talented designers at Tiffany Studios created a wide variety of sizes and styles of poinsettia shades. The 28" Poinsettia shade is the largest poinsettia shade we offer. This generously proportioned shade has a non repeating pattern and is the perfect showcase for a variety of rich red glasses. This naturalistic shade was originally designed as a chandelier cone, but can also be used as a large table lamp or on a Junior Floor base. We created this shade in 2009 for a Midwest client.

 

 

16" Acorn

 

 

Just completed and available for purchase from our showroom is this 16" Acorn shade. With its elegant simplicity, the 16" Acorn is a shade that is at home in any interior as a featured or accent lamp. A mottled celadon green glass is used for the body of the lamp. The glass for the acorns is an off-white mixed with light pink (note: this design was originally called a vine leaf on the Tiffany Studios price guides, but the modern name for the shade is Acorn). The shade is shown on the Poppy Pottery base (18" tall).

Since posting this photo, the Poppy Pottery base has been sold and our line of pottery bases is discontinued, so this base is no longer available. The shade is still available, and we have bronze bases that can be used with this shade.

 

Lamp of the Week: 18" Oriental Poppy

 

Bursting with colorful flowers, the 18" Oriental Poppy is a delightfully complex Tiffany lamp design. Three horizontal border rows barely contain the exuberant blooms as they create a three dimensional vista of color. This example, created in 2014 for a local client, has an explosion lush red and orange poppies  set against vibrant blues, purples, and greens. The shade is shown on the elegant Library base (22.5" tall).

 

22" Geometric

 

The 22" Geometric shade is a large, impressive shade that can be created in any coloration. For this piece, we began with a deep red at the top and gently shifted the color to a rich amber tone at the bottom. The brickwork positioning of the glass tiles gives the shade a stable appearance. This lamp was commissioned by a local client and is shown on the Twisted Vine base (lamp height 27" tall). The shade also works as a floor lamp or chandelier fixture.

 

Lamp of the Week: 18" Grape

 

With its lush foliage and fully ripened grapes, the 18" Grape is one of Tiffany Studios' most successful lamp designs. The shade begins with a cast bronze crown of open branches at the top that mates with the sturdy Tree Trunk base (23" tall).  The glass continues the flow of the branchwork and cascades downwards, ending in a naturalistic irregular lower edge. We used a wide variety of glasses to create the exciting coloration on this shade. Grapes in tones of blue, purple, burgundy, and red intermingle with the lush foliage, playfully dotting the surface of the shade. Commissioned in 2015 by a client in Vermont, the shade is a lively mix of color and texture.  

16" Snowball

 

 

The 16" Snowball shade is the tabletop version of the large 24" Snowball dome. The unusually deep shape of the shade is accentuated by the undulations of the lower edge, giving the shade a natural feel. For this piece, we chose a stunning blue glass for the sky. The flowers and leaves are a lively mix of heavily mottled and textured glasses. The flower colors range from off whites mixed with green to the rusty tones of mature blooms. Commissioned by a client in Maryland, the shade is shown on the slender Grooved base (24" tall).

Lamp of the Week: Mermaid with Nautilus Shell

 

The Mermaid with Nautilus Shell lamp depicts a bronze double-tailed mermaid riding the crest of a wave while holding a lit nautilus shell above her head. Tiffany Studios used the nautilus shade on a few different bases, but this has always been the most coveted shade/base combination. The color of the shade gently shifts from white to green. The height of the lamp is 16". This piece was commissioned by a local client in 2016.

 

16" Pomegranate

 

The 16" Pomegranate features a decorative border of eighteen pomegranates that encircle the shade in pleasant repetition. The amber tone of the shade plays off of the green glaze of the 7 Handled Pottery base. The lamp base is from our discontinued line of Grueby style pottery bases (see our post from October 15, 2020). This lamp was commissioned by a client in Kansas.

We still have two pottery bases available:

Poppy 18" tall  $1100.00 (14" - 16" shades) - Classic Grueby style base with a two tone textured glaze. One available.

Pottery & Bronze 19.5" tall - $1700.00 (16" - 18" shades) This is a one of a kind lamp base that combines a cast bronze lower portion and hand thrown pottery. One available

 

Lamp of the Week: 22" Elaborate Peony

 

With its intricate piecework and the suggestion of movement, the 22" Elaborate (or Windswept) Peony is aptly named. The generous scale of the shade allows the glass artist to explore the Impressionistic nature of the design. As a challenge to ourselves, we decided to make this lamp with a two sided color scheme. One side of the shade has fuchsia and orange colored flowers set against a predominantly green background. The colors are blended so that as the shade is spun, the opposite side reveals red flowers against a vivid blue background. Displayed on the sturdy Tree Trunk base, we created this lamp in 2005 as a showroom piece and it now resides in a private collection in Florida.

 

 

 

A Foundry Pickup

 

 

This past week we went to our foundry to drop off waxes for upcoming projects and pick up the bronze castings that were completed. Our foundry is an hours drive in both directions from the studio. Since reopening after a several month state mandated shutdown of all non essential businesses this past spring, the foundry has been inundated with orders from all their clients, including our studio. Due to this they were running with much longer lead times than usual and we had been anxiously waiting for several castings to be completed. To our surprise and delight, when we arrived they had all the castings completed that we had in production. After barely being able to fit all the bronzes into our car, we returned to the studio energized to get to work finishing the bases.

Every base we create at our studio is made completely by hand in the same way that a bronze statue is created. Using molds to pour waxes, each wax is cleaned by hand to remove mold seams and fill air bubbles before taking it to the foundry. Karen, the person in charge of waxes, then prepares the wax to be encased in a ceramic shell - a dipping process that builds up layers that will become the mold. Creating the shell takes over a week as each of the 13 layers of slurry and silica sand much be completely dry before adding the next layer. Once complete the mold is placed into a furnace to harden the shell and melt out the wax. The next step in the process is the actual bronze casting. Here is a 2019 video of the team at our foundry pouring bronzes https://castingcreations.business.site/posts/2456753793378200669?hl=en

Once cooled to room temperature, the ceramic shell is broken to reveal a raw bronze. Each wax makes one bronze, so if there is a flaw in the shell, the entire process must be restarted from the beginning. The bronze is then chased (cleaned up) by Dan, the person in charge of metal finishing and fabrication at the foundry. To create the Shell Urn base shown above, four castings are needed - each foot is cast individually and the body is a separate casting. Dan attaches the feet to the casting and it is ready to return to our studio for us to complete.

Several more days of meticulous work at our studio will be needed to finish the base and have it ready for our client. The lighting must be fabricated and all the individual parts need to be finished with a patina, a multi-step process. Finally, all the parts are assembled and the base is wired.

Lamp of the Week: 14" Geranium

 

 

The 14" Geranium is a compact shade that elevates this ubiquitous summertime potted plant to star status. For this example, cheerful red flowers pop against the sunny yellow background. A wide variety of mottled and rippled green glasses with an undercurrent of red are used for the distinctive foliage. We created this lamp for a local client in 2013. The shade is shown on the Penguin Foot base.

 

16" Geometric with Squares

 

Tiffany Studios designed a variety of geometric shades that feel at home in any decor. These elegantly simple designs emphasize the glass selected for the shade. For this 16" Geometric with Squares we chose a light butter yellow glass with a soft mottle for the main body of the shade. The accent rows at the bottom of the shade consist of two pale green horizontal rows and a decorative band of squares in wispy blue mixed with pale yellow. The shade is shown on the Small Stick base (20" tall) in the above photo.

The simple elegance of the Small Stick base imparts the finished lamp with a traditional look. Moving the shade onto the organic Tall Flower Petal base (20" tall) softens the visual profile of the lamp.

This 16" Geometric with Squares lamp is currently available for purchase from our studio showroom.

Lamp of the Week: 22" Tulip

 

The 22" Tulip is a generously proportioned, intricate shade design filled to bursting with flowers in full bloom. Two horizontal border rows strain to keep the masses of flowers in check. The deep red tulip flowers play against lively green leaves. The shade is shown on the Twisted Vine base (24.5" tall). We created this shade in 2005 and it is in a private collection.

 

15" Spider

 

Depending on the glass chosen for the shade, the 15" Spider shade has the ability to look bright and cheerful or dark and menacing. While obviously inspired by a spider and web, Tiffany Studios originally referred to the shade as "geometric plain, heavy ribs for #337 base". The #337 base is the Mushroom base shown in the photos and is a perfect mate for this shade. It is not surprising that original examples of this shade are rarely matched with a different base since it is called out this way on their price guide.

The spider legs, or heavy ribs as they are referred to in the original price guide are cast in bronze and give the shade an additional three dimensional quality not found in traditional dome shades. Even the vent cap is an abstract representation of the spider's body. For this shade, our client requested a light amber tone and the glass we chose is a transparent white and amber/yellow mix that has wispy mottles. The shade was commissioned by a client in Ohio and is mated on the traditional Mushroom base (16" tall).

We shot a short video of Irwin Terry soldering the spider legs into the shade. When incorporating cast bronze parts (spider legs, wisteria crowns, etc) into a shade, the challenge is to keep the metal hot enough that the solder will flow and attach to the glass. Irwin uses two soldering irons when attaching rings, rims and cast parts because until the thick metal parts heat up, they suck the heat out of the iron. Working with two irons, the metal parts heat up quickly and the irons stay at temp.  

Irwin has developed a technique of holding both irons in one hand when working with cast parts so that he can quickly change irons and keep everything nice and hot. 

***Please note that this is not an instructional video. If you decide that you wish to try this yourself, practice with cold soldering irons to see if you can hold onto two at once and not drop them. These Weller Temperature Control Soldering Irons are heating to 800 degrees and can easily slip from your hands and burn you.***

 

 

 

 

Lamp of the Week: 16" Pansy

 

 

The 16" Pansy shade showcases clusters of delicate flowers set against a geometric background. Pansy flowers are a perfect subject for representation in stained glass because of the variety and vibrancy of the flowers themselves. For this shade, the background shifts from a light amber mixed with pale blue down to a vibrant blue with hints of yellow. Set against this colorful backdrop, the multicolored flowers playfully interact with one another. Commissioned by a California client in 2019, the shade is shown on the Greek Urn base (21" overall height).

 

 

 

Century Studios Metalwork

 

At Century Studios, we have been creating stained glass shades since 1986 and have been producing our own line of lamp bases for over 20 years. In the past, we would visit our foundry every 8 to 12 weeks to drop off waxes and pick up raw bronzes to bring back to the studio for finishing. During that time, we were able to work on metalwork casually between stained glass projects. In the past two years our base work has increased to the point where we are now spending equal amounts of time on bronze bases and stained glass shades. We are now visiting the foundry every 2 to 4 weeks. The increase in orders for bases means that we have had to adjust the way we schedule projects to include dedicated studio time for wax work and bronze finishing. The above photo shows the mold and wax for a Shell Urn base that is currently at the foundry. This base sits up on three feet which are molded and cast separately, then attached to the body of the base. 

We recently completed this Dragonfly Mosaic Urn base for a client in Canada. Bill Campbell does all the cutting, fitting and application of the glass mosaic to the bronze casting. It is intricate, painstaking work that takes him a week to complete. For this base, the glass chosen for the mosaic tiles starts with blue at the top and transitions to green at the bottom. The glass has a shimmering iridescent luster surface that catches the light from all angles.

Farewell To Pottery Lamp Bases

 

It is with regret that we must say farewell to our line of Pottery Lamp Bases. For over 23 years, Century Studios has created pottery bases using hand thrown pots by Ephraim Fiance Pottery (also Arts and Clay/Jemerick Art Pottery until their closure a few years ago). Ephraim has informed us that they are no longer accepting commissions for custom pieces.

We have a selection of pottery bases in the studio which can be purchased at this time. Once these bases are sold, they will no longer be available. All pottery is hand thrown to our specifications and is fitted with reproduction Tiffany Studios metalwork created at our studio.

 

Budding Gourd 14" tall - SOLD (12" - 14" shades)

 

Poppy 18" tall  $1100.00 (16" shades) - One available

 

Pottery & Bronze 19.5" tall - $1700.00 (16" - 18" shades) This is a one of a kind lamp base that combines cast bronze and hand thrown pottery. One available

Budding Leaf Urn 22" tall - SOLD (16" - 20" shades)  

Leaves of Grass 20" tall - SOLD (16" - 20" shades) - One available

Kendrick 22" tall - SOLD (16" - 20" shades)

 

Monumental Budding Leaf Urn 29" tall  $2200.00 This is a one of a kind base with 4 lights. It will work nicely with 22" shades and some 25" shades such as the Rose Bush, Roman, Fish Scale or Salamander - One available

 

To purchase these bases, contact us by email: info@centurystudios.com, or phone 651-699-4838. All sales are first come, first served.

Turtleback Hanging Lantern Trio

 

We recently completed a trio of Turtleback Hanging Lanterns for a client in California. The lanterns will be incorporated into the decor at the client's winery. Turtleback Lanterns can be made using green, amber and deep black cherry red turtleback tiles. For these fixtures our client chose the deep red turtlebacks. In the photo above, only the center lantern is illuminated.

Cast in heavy bronze, the lantern itself is 13" tall from the base to the top of the loop and 8" wide. The fixture can be made to any length, but the minimum dimension from the ceiling to the bottom of the fixture is 19".

For the door at the bottom of the lanterns, we usually install a piece of transparent glass so light can come down. Our client requested an upgrade with cut turtleback pieces.

Lamp of the Week:

 

 

The 18" Trumpet Vine lamp is one of the four Tiffany Studios 18" shade designs intended for use on the Large Tree Trunk base (23" tall). The sculpted cast metal openwork crown at the top of the shade flows into the stained glass naturally by the inclusion of heavy branch work that appears throughout the body of the shade. For this shade, lively oranges and greens interact playfully with occasional shots of pale purple. Streaky, mottled, and rippled glasses intermix to give the shade a naturalistic appearance. We created this lamp in 2004 and it is in a private collection.

 

 

 

Bird Skeleton Base

 

Century Studios is pleased to reintroduce the Bird Skeleton base to our lamp base offerings. The base, sometimes referred to as the Organic Root base, has four lights, is 26" tall, and can be used with 20" or 22" shades. We used to get this base from Odyssey until they ceased producing metalwork. We now create the waxes for this base at our studio and have it cast in bronze using our local foundry. Once we get the raw bronze casting back from the foundry, all finish work is completed at our studio.

One of the features of the Bird Skeleton base is that the bronze is pierced with openings, giving it a visual lightness. To create these openings, we pour the wax and then hours are spent painstakingly cutting out and cleaning up each opening by hand.

The two lamps shown on this post include a 20" Waterlily (created in 2006 and now in a private collection)  and a 22" Elaborate Peony (commissioned in 2014).