Tiffany Lamps

1. In the late 1800s, artist and interior designer Louis Comfort Tiffany (son of the founder of Tiffany and Company, creators of fine silver and jewelry) created the Tiffany lamp. Lamp bases resembled sculptures; unique and complex shades were created by fitting together hundreds of pieces of hand-cut glass into copper framings.

2. Tiffany lamps are grouped into floral, peacock, dragonfly, red rose, and wisteria categories, according to shade designs. Noted for the use of vibrant oranges, blues, reds, lavenders, and/or greens in a warm blend of colored art glass (stained glass), these traditional, contemporary, and mission-style lamps turn ceiling, wall, floor, table, and desk lamps into works of art.

3. Tiffany shades accent any room in the house. Sizes range from 6-inch desk or bedside lamps to ceiling fixtures, torchiere table and floor lamps, and even pool table Tiffany lighting.

4. Proper care and cleaning of Tiffany lamps ensures lasting beauty. Disconnect the power source before cleaning; to clean lamps made of stained glass or art glass, and to clean metal or wood bases, apply a small amount of oil-based furniture polish to a soft cloth and gently wipe the surfaces.

5. Never use ammonia products to clean Tiffany lamps. Solder that has tarnished or oxidized has a discoloring white film that can be removed using a light coating of lemon oil, which will prevent further oxidation.

6. The cost of Tiffany lamps varies according to the type of glass used and the amount of detail in the design. The focus of the Tiffany lamp is the shade; the more panels and colors in the shade's design, the more costly the lamp.

7. Lines, seeds, and bubbles may be present in Tiffany shades, and are simply part of the beauty of stained glass. Because of uncountable subtle shadings, each Tiffany lamp is unique.