Sunday, March 2, 2025

Calamondin Orange Tree Lamp

We completed the 18" Calamondin Orange Tree lamp for our clients. This Century Studios original shade design was conceived by Bill Campbell in 2014. With 2050 individual pieces of glass, this is the most elaborate shade we create.

Infinite patience is required to cut and fit each of the tiny pieces. Bill Campbell and Irwin Terry are seen foiling one of the five section repeats of the shade.

Bill transferred the foiled pieces onto the waxed lamp form. The cast bronze branch crown at the top will be incorporated into the shade as it is being soldered together.
 

Irwin spent many hours soldering the shade. There are lead branches in high relief in the body of the shade.

When composing the layout Bilo chose a wide variety of glasses for this colorful shade. The Calamondin Orange plant both flowers and fruits simultaneously, making it a perfect subject for a stained glass shade.

The shade is mounted on the study Tree Trunk base, which was originally created by Tiffany Studios for their signature wisteria lamps. This is the second time we have made this lamp. The Calamondin Orange Tree lamp will no longer be available as we are retiring this pattern from production.
 

Sunday, February 9, 2025

16" Apple Blossom

The 16" Apple Blossom is a tranquil Tiffany Studios' shade design. Two flower laden tree branches encircle the domed shaped shade. We selected a sunny yellow background glass that has tints of green and orange.

To add a layer of visual interest to the shade each of the flower centers are hand chipped from pressed glass jewels. 

The shade is shown on the Mock Turtle base (21.5" tall). This shade has been sold and is in a local collection.


Sunday, January 26, 2025

22" Dragonfly and Other Projects

Visitors to our studio showroom are always amazed that we have multiple projects happening concurrently. The overlapping of tasks allows us to give our hands a rest from tasks like cutting and grinding while advancing projects towards completion.

We have completed the 22" Dragonfly shade for our client in Michigan. Studded with multicolored pressed glass jewels, the background begins as a deep velvety blue that lightens and transitions to green. The red eyed dragonflies surrounding the bottom of the shade have bodies in green rippled glass and orange/amber wings tinged with purple.

The shade is mated with the impressive Large Tree Trunk base (28" tall) and is finished with a whimsical Pigtail Cap.

Work continues on the 18" Calamondin Orange Tree lamp. The photo above shows the same section at two different stages of layout. 

While Bill Campbell has completed the layout for the entire shade, the remaining four sections are now in the process of being cut and fit. Once all the pieces have been cut, the foiling can begin on this intricate shade.


Sunday, January 12, 2025

Welcome 2025

We jumped into 2025 both feet first with a number of projects for clients. At the end of last year we completed the cutting and fitting for a 22" Dragonfly shade. The first order of business for the new year was to foil this shade.

After foiling the shade, Irwin Terry has been working on the soldering for the shade.

Bill Campbell moved on to the layout of an 18" Calamondin Orange Tree lamp. 

Bill designed this lamp in 2014. With just under 2050 individual pieces of glass, this shade has more pieces than any other lamp we offer.

Every shade is created by hand, one piece at a time. Laying out and cutting the first piece for a new shade is always exciting. Bill began with the tiny flower petal pieces.
This past week we also prepared waxes for our first trip to the foundry this year. We will be picking up unfinished bronze castings when we drop off these waxes.

If the first two weeks are any indication, 2025 is going to be a very busy year!


Thursday, January 2, 2025

Lamp of the Week: 18" Tyler

The 18" Tyler is a shade design with a calming presence in which a geometric ground is overlaid with a playful scrolling ribbon. Set against a green geometric background, the scrolling ribbon has a mix of warm amber and green tones. This shade was created for a client in New Jersey in 2014. The shade is shown on the classic Decorated Trumpet base (22" tall).