Lamp of the Week: 22" Peony

The 22" Peony is a signature Tiffany Studios shade design. Large, showy flowers cover the surface of the turban shaped shade. For this example, the flowers blend from a lightly textured fuchsia at the top into striated reds and lush purples. The flower colors are supported by a shifting background that includes mottled, streaky, and fracture glass in mixed tones of deep blue and green highlighted with amber, purple, red, and fuchsia. The intensely rippled deep green border rows towards the bottom of the shade underscore the colors and various textures found throughout the shade.

The shade is shown on the Perforated base (26" tall, telescopes taller). This exciting lamp was commissioned by a client in Illinois in 2018.

20" Lily Pad

Water plants are one of the major design themes for Tiffany Studios lamp shades. The 20" Lily Pad is unusual in that it depicts the surface of a pond that is completely covered with lily pads but there are no flowers present. It is also one of only a few Tiffany shade designs drawn in deep perspective. The design has only three design elements: water, pads, and a bottom border row that is comprised of oval shaped pieces of glass representing the rocky edge of the pond. 

The lily pads are seen from an angle and the large pads at the bottom become smaller towards the top. Because of the shallow cone shape, the eye views this as a shift in perspective lending the shade a three dimensional feel. The design has a layered horizontal orientation and the overall effect is calm and tranquil.

The shade is shown on the slender Grooved Base (24" tall), and can be used with other bases. This lamp was created for our studio showroom and has been sold.

Lamp of the Week: 16" Vine Ornament

With its wide band of swirling leaves, the 16" Vine Ornament is a design that is equal parts floral and geometric. The leaves were cut from a highly textured ripple glass, which enhances the movement of the design. The shade is shown on the Cereus base (17" tall). We created this shade in 2006 and it is now in a private collection.

25" Rose Bush

The 25" Rose Bush is a generously proportioned shade. The unusual helmet shape showcases the large roses that cover the surface of the shade. This piece was commissioned by a client in Arizona who requested a bold color palette.

The pattern for this lamp has two repeats. Deep red roses and lush foliage play against a cerulean blue sky.

Irwin Terry is seen transferring the foiled pieces onto the waxed fiberglass lamp form in preparation for soldering.

Mated with the organic Twisted Vine base (27" tall), this large table lamp has a lot of personality. Due to the shape and boldness of the pattern, the 25" Rose Bush also makes a stunning floor lamp or chandelier fixture.
 

Lamp of the Week: 20" Waterlily

The 20" Waterlily evokes hot summer days when lily pads and flowers gently float on the surface of a pond. The rippled water glass for this shade was chosen from a unique piece of drapery glass that was made in the late 80's/early 90's. Cobalt blue, green, and azure blue are deftly mixed together with glass fractures added on the reverse. Against this striking backdrop, a variety of lush pink, amber, peach and white flowers and buds nestle amongst large lily pads in mixed tones of green. The purple rippled border rows add an element of surprise to the shade.

The Twisted Vine w/Arms & Ring base (overall lamp height 27") gives the impression that the water plant's stems are rising up from the surface of the table to the floating flowers and pads above. This lamp was created in 2019 as a showroom piece and is now in a private collection.

14" Dragonfly

 

The August heat reminds us that it is time to get back to the cabin and enjoy late summer as the days begin to shorten. Inspired by this time of year, we created this 14” Dragonfly shade using a transparent amber grey glass that has wisps of blue drifting through like wood smoke. Like the embers of a dying campfire, the glowing red jewels that dot the lower half of the shade draw the dragonflies near and light their wings with a rosy glow.

Some years ago we viewed an auction preview in New York City of original lamps by Tiffany Studios. Among the pieces was a Dragonfly lamp made using very transparent grey glass, an intriguing example of unusual glass selection by the studio artisans.

While looking through our glass library recently, we came across a few small sheets of an amber grey glass that we had made during the time that we had access to a glass furnace. It was a subtle, transparent amber grey and inspired us to make a lamp along the lines of the original example viewed so long ago. The red jewels, also custom made, deepen as they reach the bottom of the shade. Due to the airy transparency of the glass, the entire lamp has the delicate sparkle of wood smoke rising up from a campfire.

Shown on the delicate Chinese base (16" tall), this lamp was made for our studio showroom and has been purchased.

Lamp of the Week: 7" Violet

Designed by Bill Campbell in 2006, the 7" Violet is a Century Studios original shade pattern. Intricately detailed, the individual pieces of glass in this shade are often no larger than chips - especially the flower centers. Set against a pale blue background, the shade is covered in delicate purple flowers amongst green leaves. Perfectly complimented by the Petite Lily Pad base (overall lamp height 16") this example was created in 2018 and is now in a private collection.

16" Turtleback

At Century Studios we create turtleback shades in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Commissioned by a client in Texas, this 16" Turtleback shade has a colorful personality. The body of the lamp makes a dramatic shift from green to deep red. The decorative band of black cherry colored turtlebacks has been hand cut and fit. The shade is shown on the Swamp Flower base (17" tall).

Lamp of the Week: 28" Wisteria

The generously proportioned 28" Wisteria makes an impressive floor lamp or chandelier fixture. For this shade we used a mix of blue, lavender and white blossoms intermingled with fresh green foliage. The mottled glass gives the flowers a sun dappled appearance, while the irregular lower border and lobed shape of the shade creates a naturalistic look. This shade was created in 2007 for our studio showroom. It was purchased by a local client and installed as a chandelier fixture in their home.