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Stained glass chandeliere by Tiffany

Multiple Dragonflies Chandelier, ca. 1910-1920. Leaded glass, cabochon glass jewels, patinated bronze, H. 9 5/8", Diameter: 21". Courtesy of The Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) was the son of Charles Tiffany, who established Tiffany and Co., the well-known jewelry firm. Rather than work in the family business, Louis, who wanted to become a painter, traveled to Europe to study art. In France, at Chartres Cathedral, he was impressed with the stained glass windows both for the use of intense, naturalistic colors which were in the glass itself rather than on it. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1870, he established an interior decorating firm in New York City and had among his clientele, the Vanderbilts, Mark Twain and President Chester A. Arthur. He also worked with Thomas Edison (who had perfected the light bulb in 1879) on a lighting project at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City, the first theater lit by electricity.

Stained glass lamp by Tiffany

Poinsettia Border Table Lamp, c. 1900-1910
Leaded glass, patinated bronze, H. 26", Diam. 18", Courtesy of the Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art

In 1893, Tiffany opened his Corona glass factory, where he produced decorative and colorful lamps and windows. By using special chemicals and methods, he was able to create thousands of colors and surfaces in the glass. During the peak of production (1900-1918) Tiffany glass furnaces turned out nearly 30,000 objects a year made of glass produced in 5,000 colors with a variety of thousands of patterns and textures. Among them were mottled, striated, fractured and drapery-like effects. Tiffany often used flowers, insects, feathers, trees, vines, snakes and many other living forms in his work. The height of Tiffany's popularity was during the Art Nouveau period (1890-1914). Louis Comfort Tiffany had found a dramatic way to combine his love of color, nature and decoration.

If you look closely, you will notice flowers, insects, feathers, trees, vines, snakes and many other living forms in his work. Test your knowledge to see if you are able to identify these natural forms by going to Just Add Ink or learn more about Tiffany and how to create your own Tiffany lamp in the Lesson Web and Dig Deeper sections.

To view large versions of the art work, select the image.

Stained glass lamp by Tiffany Stained glass lamp shade by Tiffany
Peony Table Lamp, ca. 1906-1910. Leaded glass, blown glass, patinated bronze, H. 31 1/2 " x 22". Courtesy of The Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art
Pond Lily Table Lamp, c. 1900-1910
Leaded glass, patinated bronze, H. 26", Diam. 18 ¾", Courtesy of the Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art