Time for Turkey Lamps, Tiffany Style

Thanksgiving is upon us and if you are looking for a Tiffany style turkey lamp to decorate your home, you may be out of luck. There have been many turkey accent lamps produced in the past, and some have been in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany, but few seem to be on the market today. Apparently these novelty lamps are not popular enough to warrant continued production but if you are motivated enough you may find one at a secondhand store or online auction site. Here are four turkey Tiffany lamps you might find:

Turkey Tiffany Accent Lamp Picture

Classic Turkey Lamp

The first lamp looks like a real turkey and adheres most to the Tiffany style. The lamp base is round and textured like a rock. Atop the rock is a patch of grass through which can be seen the turkey’s feet. The base and the turkey’s neck and head are made of cast resin with a bronze finish. The lamp is 11 inches tall, uses over 100 cuts of glass and features orange, red, burgundy, black and white. This is a classic Tiffany style turkey.

Harvest Turkey Accent Lamp Picture

Harvest Turkey Lamp

The second turkey lamp incorporates the harvest season with a resin lamp base that includes a corn cob, a pumpkin and apples. The legs and feet of the turkey are also part of the resin base. This Tiffany accent lamp is 11 inches tall and uses over 300 cuts of glass. With green, blue, pink, orange and yellow, this festive turkey would add color and cheer to the Thanksgiving season.

The last two lamps are set in wire frames and would be considered Tiffany style lighting rather than true Tiffany style lamps. They are made of stained glass pieces with wire running over to make them look like more cuts of glass were used, and as if they were foiled and soldered. One lamp stands on metal feet and wears a pilgrim hat. The other has a painted resin base with a pumpkin, gourd, wheat and apples. Both of these turkey novelty lamps feature basic red, orange, yellow and green and stand about 8 inches tall.

Pilgrim Turkey Novelty Lamp Picture

Pilgrim Turkey Lamp

Thanksgiving Turkey Novelty Lamp Picture

Thanksgiving Turkey Lamp

If you enjoy holiday decorating you might think about tracking down a turkey Tiffany lamp for your next Thanksgiving celebration. Keep in mind which of these styles suits your home and personality and when you find the perfect turkey, grab it!

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Autumn Seasonal Lamps by Meyda Tiffany

Autumn is a time of introspection: the winds begin to blow, leaves change color and the nights turn dark and cold. Autumn is undeniably beautiful and Meyda Tiffany offers a way to bring the beauty indoors with their Autumn Leaf collection. The collection includes two Tiffany style table lamps that pay tribute to the season with the motif of falling leaves. The lamps are comparable in both price and quality while differing in size, style and color.

Picture of Meyda Tiffany's Autumn collection large table lamp

Meyda's Large Autumn-Themed Table Lamp

The first lamp is the larger of the two, standing at 27.5 inches tall. The base is aged bronze and crafted in the form of a tree starting at the roots and reaching straight up through the trunk. The bronze is textured to capture the look and feel of bark. Continuing the tree theme are intertwined bronze vines bordering the lamp shade above and below. The crown of the lamp is covered with the same vines, allowing the light to shine through unfiltered. This lamp’s shade is 10.5 inches in height and 19 inches in diameter. The shade is dome-shaped and flat on the top and bottom. It features three-point leaves in a random wind-blown pattern. The colors are muted yellow, green, orange and brown with strands of variation throughout the stained glass. This lamp has a classic, understated feel with its soft Autumn colors and elegant dome shape.

The second lamp is smaller, standing at 23.5 inches tall. This lamp base is also aged bronze and

Picture of Meyda Tiffany's Autumn collection small table lamp

Meyda's Small Autumn-Themed Table Lamp

crafted in the form of a tree trunk with a texture like tree bark. Three barren branches stretch out from the main, while the trunk sways up toward the shade. At the topmost crown is a small bronze cap. This lamp’s shade is 6.5 inches in height and 18 inches in diameter. The umbrella-shaped shade has a jagged bottom edge formed by the falling leaf pattern. Ivory, yellow and orange are the prominent colors of this Tiffany art glass shade with the bottom section being primarily orange. This Meyda lamp has a natural look because of the curved base and added branches. There are fewer colors than in the first lamp, although the colors in this lamp’s shade are more vibrant and distinct.

The Autumn Leaf collection is designed and produced by Meyda Tiffany in New York, USA, but these glass lamps can also be found under the Illumine brand name. They require 60 watt maximum bulbs and are plug-in with a pull chain switch mechanism. The larger lamp uses three bulbs and the smaller needs two. Both Tiffany table lamps retail for just under $500 USD and both are truly lovely expressions of Autumn.

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Light Up Halloween with a Tiffany Lamp

If you’re a Tiffany lamp enthusiast looking for Halloween decor, or a Halloween lover looking to enhance your holiday collection, you should take a quick peek at the Tiffany style options available for the season. These light fixtures are a great way to brighten up the dark October nights and create festivity from Labor Day until Christmas.

Currently there are surprisingly few choices out there but they seem to come in three basic themes—pumpkins, monsters and skeletons. Pumpkin lamps are the most popular and have the most variety. There is a tall jack-o-lantern, a fat jack-o-lantern and two art glass pieces featuring jack-o-lantern scenes. All of these jacks sport cheerful faces. There is also a plain old harvest pumpkin. The monster lamp is in the shape of a Frankenstein bust. The skeleton lamp is a head in the style of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Meyda Tiffany Style Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern Lamp Picture

One of Meyda's Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern style lamps.

While these decorative lamps are considered Tiffany style accent lamps, or novelty lamps, they are also works of art. Most are handcrafted with Tiffany’s famous copper foil construction process using

dozens or even hundreds of cuts of glass. Some are produced by well-known art glass company Meyda Tiffany.

All of these Tiffany accent lamps with Halloween themes are for indoor use only. They are small–under a foot tall–and are meant as tabletop lamps. All but one are traditionally built with a line switch and use a single candelabra bulb. The plain old pumpkin is the only accent lamp to use batteries and LED lights and because of this it has the additional bonus of being portable.

Halloween-themed Tiffany lamps make great gifts for a hostess, a housewarming or can even be given as birthday or Christmas gifts for the Halloween buff. Not only do they bring beauty and warmth into your home, but they celebrate the spirit of the holiday. Illuminate the darkness of Hallow’s Eve with a jack-o-lantern, monster or skeleton or accent the season with a harvest pumpkin.

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Twelve Light Pond Lily Lamp

Tiffany Studios Twelve Light Pond Lily Lamp.

The original Tiffany Studios Twelve Light Pond Lily Lamp.

As you may be aware, Tiffany Studios produced much more than their standard stained glass lamp shades.  There were many different products but in keeping with lighting one beautiful design that was created was the twelve light Pond Lily lamp.  The Pond Lily lamp had a three dimensional patinated bronze base design of round leaves and buds.  The trumpet lily shades made of favrile glass seemed to have varying colors available, one with a prevalent gold hue and others being more colorful.  Produced in the early 1900s, this beautiful piece measured roughly 21 1/4″ in height and the base number was 382.  Some of these masterpieces are still  around with recent reported sales at auctions of $21,000 and $41,800.  Currently one of these lamps with the iridescent glass is being offered for sale at $65,000.

Tiffany Studios Twelve Light Pond Lily Table Lamp

The original Tiffany Studios Twelve Light Pond Lily Lamp.

There have been many replicas made of the pond lily lamp shades and of the complete lamp itself.  This Tiffany style lamp design is very popular and several companies are currently producing it or variations of it.  Two of these companies are Dale Tiffany and Meyda Tiffany.

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The Loss of the Lamps

Pieces of GlassHave you ever wondered what happened to all the original Tiffany lamps?  Why are they so few and rare?  Were there only a handful produced and sold?  The truth is some of these gorgeous lamps were forgotten or lost.  Many were broken by accident or time.  Still others wound their way through garage sales and junk shops to end up in the garbage.  One group of Tiffany lamps, however, met an even worse fate as a result of the Great Depression and the fickle nature of fashion.

Louis Comfort Tiffany and his company, Tiffany Studios, was a huge success during the early 1900s.  Sadly, Tiffany had lost his eminence as an artist and designer by the time he died in 1933.  His lamps, once considered great works of art, were valued only for their materials.  Three years later, Tiffany Studios was dismantled and its contents auctioned off.  Witnesses describe how salvage dealers took the lamps out of the Studio and bashed them against the sidewalk in an effort to remove the beautiful, but worthless, art glass.  Left over were the lamp bases and frames made of lead and bronze which were melted down and sold.

This history illustrates well how practicality and the dollar were able to destroy a treasure trove of art.  It wasn’t until the mid 1950s that the beauty of Tiffany lamps was rediscovered.  By the 1960s people began reproducing them.  Today there are countless copies and new designs but the most valuable of them all is the original Tiffany lamp.

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Tiffany Lamp Cleaning and Care

Cleaning a Tiffany LampYour investment in a Tiffany Lamp goes beyond the initial purchase. Once you have it home and in the perfect place you need to maintain it. Cleaning a Tiffany Lamp requires an attention to detail and some patience. The time and effort involved in cleaning it pays off in spades as the light, colors and beauty of the lamp is able to shine.

Most Tiffany Lamps are intricately detailed with many small panels and solder that will catch and hold dust and grime. Dusting the lamp often can help prevent buildup and save you time in the long run. What do you normally use to dust? Go with that first to keep the lamp dust free. If dust has built up then use a vacuum with brush attachment, this can help dislodge some of the dust without rubbing it into any cracks or crevices in the lamp.

When your lamp needs more than dusting it’s time to unplug the lamp and get ready to do some cleaning. Tiffany Lamps and Tiffany Style Lamps are made of a variety of materials and they have different cleaning considerations. If your lamp is made of art glass, jadestone or opaque stained glass use a soft cloth with a lemon oil based cleaner or furniture polish and wipe the surfaces gently. This method also works on most of the metal lamp bases as well as fixture frames.

For lamp shades of transparent or beveled glass you can use water or a standard household glass cleaner. With Lithophane porcelain lamps use warm soapy water using a mild detergent or soap. On non-colored areas that have hard to clean stains you may use a scouring powder. Use the dusting methods or a soft damp cloth for cleaning lamp shades that are made of fabric or mica. On lamps or fixtures in areas that will collect grease, such as the kitchen, some recommend Mr. Clean Top Job®. After cleaning with Mr. Clean be sure to reapply any lemon oil as required.

In general it is best to stay away from aggressive, corrosive or abrasive cleaners as this can damage the glass and solder. Watch out for products with ammonia as it can cause the solder to oxidize. If you have a lamp with oxidized solder then use a light coating of lemon oil to clean it and help prevent future tarnishing and oxidization.

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Is A Dragonfly Lamp Right For You?

Dragonfly Tiffany LampSo you’re looking for a lamp that decorates the room and resonates with you personally; one to illuminate both your home and your life. It’s no easy task to find the perfect piece. It can take days, weeks or even months to find the lamp that’s right for you. Maybe you need a focal point for your living room? Or a conversation piece? A light for late-night journal writing? Consider a dragonfly tiffany lamp. The tiffany is a classic that brings color and elegance into your home. The dragonfly, with its positive meanings, will uplift and inspire.

Dragonflies symbolize maturity. In particular, they represent the sense of knowing oneself. Dragonflies are born in and remain around water in a larva state for most of their lives. Only toward the very end do they grow wings and fly. Therefore the creatures we recognize as dragonflies signify the point where intellect (air) finally balances and tempers emotion (water).

Dragonflies are a sign of new beginnings. They dance on the wind–a force that brings renewal and change to the world. They are expert fliers and can move forward, backward, up, down and hover in one place. With two sets of wings they can choose their speed and direction or simply float on the breeze.

Dragonflies represent love. The reason that dragonflies take flight in the final stage of their lives is to mate. The sight of two dragonflies together is considered a sign of impending romance and good fortune.

The dragonfly is featured on a number of original tiffany lamps. Dragonflies are positioned swirling around the shade, flying downward or even facing each other. Some of the more intricate ones use dragonflies with overlapping wings to form the edge of the shade.

If you find yourself drawn to these mystical insects or you’re moving toward a feeling of finally knowing yourself, take a look at the tiffany dragonfly lamp. You can find dragonflies on floor lamps, table lamps, pendant lamps, chandeliers and sconces. Does the action of the swirling dragonfly pattern attract you? Or do you prefer the symmetry of the downward dragonfly design? Are you partial to neutral colors or bright jewel tones? If you can, invest in a lamp made with organic materials such as bronze and glass. If you want the look and don’t have the budget, go for plastic and resin. Most importantly find a lamp that means something to you, that will grow with you and bring light to your home and your life. Keep the dragonfly in mind the next time you go searching for that perfect lamp.

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The Art and Beauty of Tiffany Lamps

Pendant Tiffany Lamp - Laburnum Pattern

Pendant Tiffany Lamp - Laburnum Pattern

Tiffany lamps were created by decorator and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany. They were produced by his company, Tiffany Studios, from the 1890’s until the 1920’s. They featured colorful glass panels held together by metal and were centered around themes in nature. The lamps were fashionable with high society members and became a symbol of opulence. Eventually they fell out of favor and Tiffany Studios went bankrupt, but in the 1950’s Tiffany’s art enjoyed a rediscovery of sorts. Today Tiffany reproductions and Tiffany style lamps have become popular once again.

The Tiffany lamp was developed as a result of Louis Tiffany’s study of lighting and color. He wanted to bring the beauty of stained glass windows into the average home. His lamps were made primarily from leaded glass with a bronze base. Occasionally a base would be formed from glass or glass mosaic. The theme of the lamp was extended from the shade through to the base making the entire product a work of art. While the Tiffany lamp is usually identified with the traditional table lamp, there are also Tiffany floor lamps, pendant lamps, Tiffany chandeliers, lanterns and sconces.

Tiffany had an affinity for nature and spent much of his time sketching the gardens of his home. As a result, the lamps Tiffany created were filled with nature-inspired designs such as flowers, trees, fruits, insects and fish. Some of the most famous Tiffany designs include the dragonfly, magnolia, cobweb and lily lamps.

Today a true Tiffany lamp is considered a collector’s item and most are housed in museums and private collections. They can fetch from the thousands to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. For the average consumer, there are many affordable Tiffany style lamps on the market. There are reproductions of the original Tiffany’s and some new creations. There are cheap alternatives that use plastic shades and resin bases or more expensive versions that follow traditional Tiffany glass and bronze construction. Regardless of budget or taste, there is a beautiful, colorful, inspirational lamp out there for everybody.

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