Leaded-Glass Shades
Originally, stained glass was created by fixing glass pieces together with grooved
pieces of lead called "lead came." These were then soldered at the joints and braced. Most of the stained glass windows in cathedrals of Europe were created in this way, and lampshades are still being created using this method. The glass itself is tinted during production, not hand-painted. This hand-painting of the glass panels is where the term "stained glass" comes from. Leaded-glass shades provide a pleasing light to any room.
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Tiffany Lamps and Copper-Foil Construction
Perhaps the most instantly recognizable attribute of a Tiffany lamp shade is its copper foil construction. This method was perfected by Tiffany and provided an alternative to the bulky lead that was being used prior. By precisely cutting the glass, Tiffany lamp shade designers could lay out their designs and use copper foil to secure the pieces together. Once soldered, copper foil is stronger than lead, and it results in cleaner lines.
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The Glass
If copper-foil construction is the first marker of that Tiffany lamp shade, then glass is second. Louis C. Tiffany studied glass-making long before he began making lamps and he developed a love for the irregular, the discolored, the type of glass that fine glass makers of the day would toss away in the garbage. Tiffany felt these impurities lent a unique and organic beauty to his lamp shade creations and trademarked the term Favrile. These shades softened the bright new electric bulb into a natural luminescence reminiscent of dragonflies, fish scales, or the underside of a lotus leaf lit from sunlight above.
Tiffany Lamps Today
Though purchasing an original Tiffany lamp today could cost you thousands of dollars, many designers and manufacturers are creating lovely replicas. Check out designers like Dale Tiffany, Meyda Tiffany, or Quoizel for lamp designs inspired by one of America's most influential artisans.
