Tiffany lamp facts for kids
A Tiffany lamp is a special type of lamp that has a beautiful glass shade. These lamps were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his design studio, which was part of Tiffany & Co.. The most famous ones are made with leaded glass, which looks like stained glass. Tiffany lamps are known for being part of the Art Nouveau art movement.
Because Louis Comfort Tiffany had such a big impact on this style, the words 'Tiffany lamp' or 'Tiffany style lamp' often mean any lamp made with stained leaded glass. This is true even if it wasn't made by Tiffany's own company.
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What Are Tiffany Lamps?
Tiffany lamps are famous for their colorful glass shades. These shades are made from many small pieces of glass, carefully cut and joined together. The way the glass is put together creates amazing patterns and pictures, often inspired by nature.
The Art Nouveau Style
Tiffany lamps are a great example of the Art Nouveau style. This was a popular art movement from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Art Nouveau artists loved to use flowing lines, natural shapes, and designs inspired by plants and flowers. Tiffany lamps often feature designs like dragonflies, flowers, and trees, which fit perfectly with this style.
Who Was Louis Comfort Tiffany?
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer. He was born in 1848 and was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, who founded the famous jewelry store Tiffany & Co. Louis Comfort Tiffany became very interested in glass and started his own glassmaking company. He wanted to create beautiful and useful art for everyday life.
How Tiffany Lamps Were Made
Tiffany lamps were made using a special technique called the "copper foil" method. Instead of using thick lead lines like traditional stained glass, Tiffany's artists wrapped each small piece of glass in thin copper foil. Then, they soldered these foil-wrapped pieces together. This method allowed for much more detailed and delicate designs than before.
Clara Driscoll's Role
Many of the beautiful designs for Tiffany lamps were created by a talented artist named Clara Driscoll. She was the head designer of the Women's Glass Cutting Department at Tiffany Studios. Clara Driscoll and her team designed many of the famous patterns, including the popular "Dragonfly" and "Daffodil" lamps.
Gallery
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A Louis Comfort Tiffany & Co. Daffodil leaded glass table lamp (shade shown), designed by Tiffany's head designer, Clara Driscoll.
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A typical Tiffany copper-foil lamp with a dragonfly design, shown with two pigeon sculptures.
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A table lamp, made around 1899-1902, by Tiffany Studios, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
Images for kids
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A collection of Tiffany Lamps from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
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A Tiffany Lamp from around 1905, displayed at the de Young Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Lámpara Tiffany para niños
