Antique Tiffany Lamps

In the world of coveted antique treasures, few of them are as well-loved as genuine antique Tiffany lamps. People who are lucky enough to own them tend to guard them jealously. They are beautiful, original, rare and expensive. Though you can find many antique Tiffany-style lamps, some of which are very highly priced, the ones that were made by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself are what are sought after and treasured as practically priceless.

Back in the late 1890’s, Louis Comfort Tiffany used to make stained glass windows for an interior design company, a profession that was highly respected in its own right. Using scraps of stained glass from his work, he started toying with making lamps, and the rest, of course, was history. Though Louis Comfort Tiffany died in 1933, lamps are still made by craftsman using his unique methods and techniques. They sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars, but the original antique Tiffany lamps can and do sell for millions of dollars.

How can you recognize true original antique Tiffany Lamps? There are so many reproductions, some of them exquisitely crafted and very old. It can be difficult even for the most discriminating of Tiffany enthusiasts to tell sometimes. Many of the Tiffany lamps were signed by Louis Tiffany himself, usually on the shade. The problem is that not all of the originals were signed by him, so this isn’t a conclusive way of recognizing one. Other originals come with a detailed history of owners, starting with the very first one, but once again, they won’t always. The best way to know if you are dealing with an original Tiffany lamp is to consult with a trusted antique dealer. If you go to a higher-end auction at a reputable auction house and a Tiffany lamp is described as original, you can be reasonably sure that it is.

Though you may find plenty of Tiffany-style antique lamps in higher-end antique stores, you’re not going to find any originals in places like that. The most common place that you’ll find true Tiffany originals is at an antique auction, and many of these higher-end auctions are not highly publicized. They don’t have to be. You have to know who to talk to or where to look.

With the advent of the internet, it has actually become easier to find out who is selling the antiques you are looking for, including original antique Tiffany lamps. Looking on the internet has its advantages and disadvantages, though. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people who are willing to mislead others about the originality of a Tiffany lamp, and for that reason it’s best not to do actual transactions over the internet. There are legitimate antique brokers listed on the internet, but it’s difficult to know who they are unless you know someone who knows someone. Your best bet is to find out about antique auctions that will be selling original Tiffany lamps, then find out more about the people who are holding the auctions.