To be technical and honest about this, there is only one situation where these terms are both accurate and truthful:
When the lamp shade or shade and base involved were actually made by Tiffany Studios, New York between about 1898-1930.
When the lamp has not had the shade or the base swapped for a newer part, to help sell it or display it or anything else. It is fine to preserve what is left, and to say that is authentic and genuine and original Tiffany. But if 50% of a table, hanging or floor lamp is original, authentic and genuine, then only the original part of the lamp is "right" and should be called authentic, original and genuine.
Many authentic Tiffany lamp shades have fallen prey to stray children's tossed balls, careless housekeeping or other mishaps. In the worst cases, it renders the shade non reparable and worthless. In the luckiest cases the shade and/or the base can be fixed well, if done by an expert restoration person; but the cost will not be inexpensive.
I realize I have a strong bias. But when I see people selling new reproductions of Tiffany Studios lamps and using the words authentic, antique, genuine and original, it irritates me. It's false advertising. People who know no different continue to think that any leaded shade - hanging, table or floor lamp is an authentic Tiffany lamp like was only made between 1898-1930, because they don't know or read up on the history. If they did they would realize that if a "Tiffany" (style) lamp is being made today, it cannot possibly be an authentic, original or genuine Tiffany Studios lamp!
As long as there is ink in my keyboard, and as long as I am an appraiser and private broker and strong lover of the fascinating and beautiful authentic lamp creations of Louis Comfort Tiffany, I will continue to educate people, to expose false advertising, and to point out forgeries and grossly misrepresented lamps people offer the public in various ways to make as much money as they can. If this means my subscription to the "Online Auctions Secret Club" (I don't know if there actually is one, but it is possible) is revoked, fine! There are enough people being fooled and taken by false, misleading advertising in food, investment, auto, healthcare, and other industries. There is no need to also fool or scam folks by saying that a lamp is an authentic, original or genuine Tiffany lamp when it is a "knock off," fake, phony, or other kind of reproduction (no matter how well made or how attractive). Call a horse a horse. But please don't call it Secretariat.
If people don't have the money for an authentic, original Tiffany lamp (and they can be bought for about $3000. on up these days, depending on the size and the type) it's fine with me if they buy reproductions. I just do not want people who have or do not have the money to spend on an authentic Tiffany lamp to buy something they believe to be the "real deal" and totally waste their money. Pictured below is an authentic, original, genuine Tiffany lamp.
I wrote this because even the best dictionaries do not differentiate well between these terms bandied about, and because every time I have to tell someone the lamp they inherited or bought is either a forgery or not authentic Tiffany, or not even terribly old, it is, after 42 years, still somewhat difficult for me. I want to try and avoid in any way I can, as many incidences of that happening in the future. Honest, factual education I believe, is part of the solution to that problem - and many other problems.
More to come...
Dennis
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