Closed for the Holidays!

Century Studios is closed

for the Holidays

We will resume regular business hours on

Tuesday January 3rd

 

Pair of 14" Chestnut Lamps

Commissioned by a client in Wisconsin, this pair of 14" Chestnut shades have a bold color palette. Creating a pair of matching lamps presents unique challenges and over the years we have fine tuned our production strategy when asked to create twin pieces.

To create a set of true twin lamps, we must approach the layout and glass selection as if the two pieces are a single large shade. Once the glass selection is complete, the pieces are sorted into two individual lamps and the construction proceeds with first one, then the second.

Because of the production logistics involved, extra time must be allotted in our schedule when creating a pair of twin lamps. In the photo above, Bill Campbell is foiling the first of the two chestnut shades.

Once the pieces of the first lamp have been foiled, Irwin Terry continues the construction process by transferring the pieces to the waxed lamp form and continuing on with the soldering. Bill returns to the cutting, fitting and foiling of the second shade.

The 14" Chestnut is a Century Studios original shade design created by Bill Campbell in 2011. The shades are mounted on a matching pair of Shell Urn bases.

Lamp of the Week: 16" Poinsettia

The 16" Poinsettia presents the exuberant plant in a formal, stylized way that still conveys the playfulness of the flowers. The wide floral band is bookmarked by amber geometric tiles that have a rosy tinge. Textured red glasses were chosen for the flowers. Created in 2004 and now in a private collection, the shade is shown on the Cereus w/Arms base.

Mermaid Lamp

One of Tiffany Studios' more unique lamp designs is the Mermaid w/Nautilus Shell.

The sculptural cast bronze base depicts a double-tailed mermaid riding the crest of a frothing wave while holding an illuminated nautilus shell above her head. The mermaid base was sculpted by artist Louis Gudebrod. Mr. Gutebrod's signature appears in low relief on the casting and thus is the only lamp base designer credited by Tiffany Studios.

The nautilus shade is built on a wooden form. Curving in on itself, the shade must be made in interlocking sections which are then carefully assembled to create the finished shell (this production photo is from an example created at our studio in 2009).

To give the shade a pearlescent look, we chose a semitransparent white glass that is lightly mixed with whispy blue, yellow and pink.

Tiffany Studios used the nautilus shade with several different bases, but this has always been the most coveted shade/base combination.

The siren song of the mermaid is exemplified in this highly detailed accent lamp (16" tall).
 

Lamp of the Week: 22" Poinsettia

 

The 22" Poinsettia (often referred to as the Double Poinsettia) showcases large expressive flowers blooming within a formal trellis. The tiered trellis creates windows through which the flowers expand. This shade has a blended coloration where different colors with the same tone are used throughout. When viewed from a distance the shade appears to be one tone, but when approached the individual colors begin to intensify and stand out from one another.

Set against a mottled celadon green background and a warm amber trellis, the flowers are a combination of complimentary orange tones. The orange is deceiving, because the flowers actually have been skillfully blended from glasses that include orange, amber, pink, red, and yellow. Commissioned in 2020 by a client in Arizona, the shade is shown on the Twisted Vine base (25.5" tall).

 

Doric Column Torchiere Lamp

Inspired by Tiffany Studios penchant for mixing and matching shades and bases in unexpected combinations, we created this Doric Column Torchiere lamp with a blown glass Heart-Shaped Magnolia shade. The shade was created by Lundberg Studios, who ceased production many years ago. The bottom of the lamp base is 6.5" square and the height is 20" (with shade). This one of a kind lamp is currently available for purchase from our studio showroom.

Lamp of the Week: 18" Oriental Poppy

The 18" Oriental Poppy is a pleasingly complex Tiffany Studios shade design. Red poppy flowers have long been a symbol of sacrifice and remembrance in western culture. This example, created in 2014 for a local client, has an explosion lush red and orange poppies set against vibrant blues, purples, and greens. Three horizontal border rows barely contain the exuberant blooms as they create a three dimensional vista of color. The shade is shown on the elegant Library base (22.5" tall).