The name of the American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany is known not only to those who have studied the history of art. Stained-glass windows and lampshades made according to the technology he invented are among the most bought, they are exhibited at the famous auctions Christie’s, Michaan, Sotheby’s.
A large collection of Tiffany glass and jewelry can be admired at the New York Metropolitan Museum. Louis Tiffany has invented a unique method of how to beautifully bond pieces of colored glass to each other. He used copper wire as a connecting element. New types of glass created by this American master made a real sensation among connoisseurs.
Tiffany’s mesmerizing modernism
The idea to create original lampshades came to their talented creator unexpectedly. The artist has been engaged in the manufacture of stained-glass windows throughout his adult life. He studied this art persistently from famous European masters. And he succeeded – his work was appreciated during his lifetime.
To create a bright multicolored panel, glasses were made using a special technology. But not all the elements could be used, there was a decent amount of unused material. In order not to send expensive exclusive glass for recycling, it was decided to launch the production of elegant modernist table lamps with bright, eye-catching lampshades.
Tiffany lamps and chandeliers at auctions
Let’s try to understand what influences the pricing of Tiffany lamps at auctions? Why is some product sold at a high price, but the buyer has not found a similar model. The cost is influenced by the type of lampshade (it is presented in two versions: blown and mosaic), how rare the model is, what year it was produced, the type of glass used, the number of elements, the complexity of the metal base.
POPPY lamp
Models made according to the “Poppies” pattern are being successfully sold. Even the minimum price is impressive for novice collectors – $ 80,000. A lamp called Poppy was sold at one of the auctions. Its acquisition cost the collector $ 135,750. The cost was influenced by a rare base called “twisted vine”.
Lamp “Gincol and daffodils”
The original model was presented to customers in 1905. The lampshade is mounted on an unusual twisted bronze base. Another feature: the glasses used for the stained-glass window attract attention with color transitions. The product was exhibited at Sotheby’s, purchased for 191,000 pounds.
Lamp WISTERIA
“Wisteria” began to be produced by Tiffany in 1903. This masterpiece of arts and crafts is considered one of the finest examples of American art nouveau design. The artist’s work was deservedly recognized at an international exhibition held in Italy.
The complexity of the pattern attracts attention, the lampshade is assembled from 2000 multi-colored elements. Despite the fact that the manufacture of lamps was put on stream, there is not a single exact copy. For each piece of “Wisteria”, individual combinations of blue shades were selected: from rich indigo to aquamarine.
Already at that time, the product was quite expensive – $ 400. A century has passed. And the price of this Tiffany accessory has skyrocketed many times – in 2013, “Wisteria”, put up for auction at Sotheby’s, was sold for one and a half million dollars.
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