Tiffany is a lighting style that originated at the turn of the century in the hands of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Beginning as a stack of cut off glass edges, the first Tiffany lamp shade was a collection of over one hundred individual pieces soldered together. The stained glass pattern was further enhanced with the use of electric light bulbs.
Tiffany style lights are see today in many forms. The same principle of the stained glass has been preserved, but the inclusion of lots of various light fixtures has translated it from just lamps into being an option for ceiling fans, accent lights, flush mount ceiling lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, floor lamps, island lights, and more. The first step away from exclusively being a table lamp was the longer stemmed bases of the floor lamps.
Some of the most popular Tiffany styles are the Dragon Fly and Wisteria. Flowers, birds, fruit are among some of the kinds originally developed by the Tiffany Girls. Many other patterns today still follow the same overall idea but with more economical ways of crafting them.
Original Tiffany lighting is at a premium of over a million dollars per light. Their beauty and early American craftsmanship only gains value throughout the years. There are some companies that still build them with the same technique that LC Tiffany developed originally but not at the absorbent prices as the originals. These replicas use the copper foil edging and all hand cut pieces, but instead of needing $1,000,000 you only need about $5,000 to purchase one.
For those who like the appeal of the stained glass but $5,000 still seems like a lot to spend, then there are the shelf brands to choose from. Amazon, among other websites have a wide variety of Tiffany style lights. Also local specialty lighting galleries offer a wide variety. Some of the cutest I saw recently were stained glass backed turtles and a delicate butterfly. Accent lights are designed to sit on the floor or on a table and be lit up. While not intended as a light source, the serve instead as a conversation piece, part of the decor of the room, or to help tie various colors in the interior decorating together.
The choice of your Tiffany lamp lighting depends heavily on what area you desire to light with it, if you are after radiance of light or the soft glow of various colors, and the interior design of your home.