Tiffany Studios ‘Daffodil’ table lamp

This stunning table lamp was designed and hand-made by the world-famous Tiffany Studios (1902-1932) in America around 1910.

The lampshade is made from hundreds of small pieces of leaded glass, arranged to form a design showcasing daffodils amongst greenery in front of a bright sunny sky. The flowers are of varying sizes and in several shades of yellow and orange. Made by some of the best artisans in the United States, the process of lampshade construction was very laborious and time-consuming. Each glass piece was carefully selected by the maker to ensure it matched the overall vision and design. The skilful selection of colours creates a vibrant composition where various shades transition between each other, as demonstrated on the ‘Daffodil’ table lamp. The lampshade is surmounted by a pierced bronze mount of a circular shape.

The patinated bronze lamp stand is of a refined and flowing design. The stem terminates in a small circular frieze of flowing S-shaped motifs. A similar, enlarged pattern can be observed on the larger, round base on which the lamp stands. Such flowing motifs are synonymous with the Art Nouveau style popular at the time of this lamp’s creation. The patinated bronze stand is coloured in various shades of brown and green creating a more realistic effect.

The lamp’s design truly comes alive when the light is switched on. The light shines through the leaded glass floral design enhancing the glass colours. The observer can notice all the intricate detailing of the patterns in addition to the high quality manufacturing.

The lamp shade is impressed in leading ‘TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK 1449’ while the base is stamped on the underside with ‘TIFFANY STUDIOS / NEW YORK / 584’.

The Tiffany Studio was founded by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) who was a designer, decorator and artist. The factory of the studio as well as their bronze foundry were located in Queens, New York where pieces, such as the lamp in Mayfair Gallery’s collection, were made by some of the finest artisans in the country. Tiffany Studio pieces were and still are often purchased by an elite clientele. Pieces made by the Tiffany Studio form part of the permanent collection of some of the world’s best museums such as the MET in New York.

Of a stunning design with attention-grabbing details, this table lamp would make a magnificent addition to both historical and contemporary interiors, surprising its observers once the light is switched on.