Using the term "antique" Tiffany Lamp to most people (not knowledgeable collectors) means an old table, hanging, floor, desk or table type shade or lamp, with a base which has leaded, colored or otherwise "stained" glass in it. To most people, it implies the lamp is authentic and valuable.This is not often accurate. There are some simple criteria a lamp of any pattern or style must meet to be a true, authentic Tiffany lamp. All the rest of the "antique Tiffany lamps" floating around the world are just "Tiffany style" lamps, and some are not at all close to looking like what Tiffany Studios ever created.
So, to be clear, to be an authentic Tiffany lamp, a shade or lamp with a base needs to have at a minimum, the following:
1. It has to have been made between the years 1898-1928, when Tiffany was in business and had a company making his lamps. While there were no doubt lamps still sold after 1930 that were "left over inventory," anything bought "new" in a store after about 1935 are not likely to be authentic Tiffany lamps unless they meet the rest of the criteria below.
2. If it is a lamp with a base, the bottom of the base plate should be stamp signed, "Tiffany Studios New York," (in all capital, non serif letters), almost always with a model number below that, or marked "Tiffany Furnaces" instead of "Tiffany Studios." There are rare exceptions to this rule, but they are quite rare. A very few bases were made of art pottery, but they will be also marked Tiffany Studios on the bottom of the art pottery base. A few the bases on the leaded glass shaded lamps were made of Tiffany glass, but it will be "etch signed" into the glass on the bottom, "L.C.T. Favrile."
3. While some shades are not signed, the vast majority of them are signed. It will likewise say, stamped into the lower inner metal rim edge of the shade, "TIFFANY STUDIOS, NEW YORK." Signed in all capital block letters as illustrated below. Occasionally, the model number of the shade will also be on a bronze tag to the right of the signature. See below photos of signatures on the bases, and photos of the shade rim signatures.
Above are two base signature marks. One signature also includes the "monogram" stamp Tiffany used for a very short time period. Both have the model number below the signature.
Above are three shade rim signature marks for authentic Tiffany lamp shades. All three also have the model number to the right of the signature mark, but this is not always there, and makes no difference to authenticity or to value.
No matter the pattern of the shade or base, and no matter what you have been told as to age, to be an authentic Tiffany Studios lamp, versus a lamp that might well have been made when Tiffany was active, but is not a Tiffany Studios lamp, the lamp shade and/or base must meet the three basic above criteria.
Please be aware that regardless of what you are told, have read, or believe from family stories, dealers, auction houses, or anyone else who might have once sold or given the lamp you have to someone you know or to you, a marked lamp can still be a forgery. Very good, signed (using the same marks as above) forgeries of most patterns of Tiffany lamps have been made since the early 1960's - over 50 years!
If the lamp you own is signed as shown above, and you know for certain it has been in your family or in your possession since before 1960, there should be little risk of it being a forgery. Nevertheless, always have it checked by a Tiffany expert to be 100% certain it is authentic, and not just...an "antique Tiffany lamp."
More to come...
Dennis
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