A stained glass lamp has a shade built from many small pieces of coloured glass joined by metal lines. Lit, the glass glows in its colours; unlit, the shade stays a decorative object. This guide covers how these lamps are made, the difference between a Tiffany lamp and a Tiffany-style lamp, how to choose a size, and how to clean the shade.
What is a stained glass lamp?
The shade is assembled piece by piece. Each piece of glass is cut to shape, its edge is wrapped in copper foil, and the pieces are soldered together along the seams. The dark lines you see between the colours are those soldered seams. This copper foil method is the technique associated with Tiffany lamps.
Tiffany lamp vs Tiffany-style lamp
A Tiffany lamp is an original lamp made by Tiffany Studios in New York, the workshop of Louis Comfort Tiffany, from the 1890s to the early 1930s. These are antiques, sold today through auction houses and specialist dealers.
A Tiffany-style lamp is a lamp made by another maker using the same kind of construction: a shade of cut glass pieces joined by soldered seams. The lamps in our collection are Tiffany-style lamps. They are new lamps, not antiques.
How to choose a stained glass lamp
1. Size and where it will stand
Check the shade width and the total height against the surface you have. A shade of about 20 cm and a height of about 36 to 38 cm is a compact format for a nightstand, a small desk or a shelf. A wider shade, around 28 cm, takes more room and suits a desk or a console.
2. Colours and pattern
The pattern changes the mood more than anything else: floral and baroque domes read as classic, geometric Mission-style shades read as more graphic, and figurative designs such as a cat motif are more playful. Look at the lamp both lit and unlit: the same glass looks deeper and more opaque when the lamp is off.
3. Plug and voltage
Check the voltage range and the plug type listed on the product page before ordering. Several of our lamps come with a choice of EU, UK, US or AU plug.
4. Switch and cord
Look at the cord length and the type of switch (for example an in-line switch on the cord), so the lamp is easy to reach where you plan to use it.
Five stained glass lamps from our collection
- Blue Stained Glass Tiffany Lamp: marbled blue art glass, shade 20 cm, height 36.5 cm, resin stand with an aged bronze finish. Plug options EU, UK, AU or US.
- Baroque Stained Glass Table Lamp: domed shade with a scalloped edge in Light Yellow or Blue, shade 20 cm, height 36.5 cm. Plug options EU, UK or US.
- Tiffany Mission Style Table Lamp: square shade in amber, yellow, orange, light blue and white glass, shade 28 cm wide, height 36.5 cm.
- Tiffany Cat Table Lamp: three designs (cream with a black cat, blue with a ginger cat, yellow with a black cat), shade 20 cm, height 36.5 cm.
- Tiffany Gypsophila Bedside Lamp: cream glass in a diamond lattice with clear crystals, shade 20 cm, height 38 cm.
See the full stained glass lamps collection.
For the history behind floral stained glass shades, see our guide to Art Nouveau lamps.
How to clean a stained glass lamp
- Switch the lamp off, unplug it and let the bulb cool.
- Dust the shade with a soft, dry cloth or a soft brush.
- For marks, wipe with a soft cloth slightly dampened with water and a drop of mild soap, then dry straight away with a clean cloth.
- Avoid abrasive pads and harsh cleaning products, which can damage the metal seams.
Our stained glass range also includes a mushroom-shaped design: the Amanita Mushroom Table Lamp.
To compare stained glass with opal and cobalt glass table lamps, with the space each one leaves on a 45 cm bedside table, see glass table lamps.
Our Tiffany-style range now runs from 16 cm to 40 cm shades: our guide to Tiffany table lamp sizes compares every size and the space it needs. For a lamp beside the bed, see our guide to bedside lamps.
Looking for a pattern? Our guide to floral Tiffany lamps covers the rose, tulip, grape, lily and hydrangea shades with their real sizes. For figurative designs such as the Tiffany Cat and the House lamp, see cute lamps.
Choosing by shape or by motif? Our guide to Tiffany lamp shade shapes compares cone, pyramid, panel, bell and dome shades with their real sizes, and peacock and bird Tiffany lamps gathers the peacock, hummingbird, butterfly and horse designs.
Two more ways to choose: jewel and beaded Tiffany lamps compares the lattice, glass drops, cabochon and bead fringe shades with their real sizes, and our Tiffany lamp gift guide sorts the range by budget, size and the person you are buying for.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tiffany lamp?
A lamp with a stained glass shade made by Tiffany Studios in New York, the workshop of Louis Comfort Tiffany, between the 1890s and the early 1930s.
What is the difference between a Tiffany lamp and a Tiffany-style lamp?
A Tiffany lamp is an original antique made by Tiffany Studios. A Tiffany-style lamp is made by another maker with the same kind of construction: cut glass pieces joined by soldered seams.
How do you clean a stained glass lamp?
Unplug it, dust it with a soft dry cloth, and wipe marks with a cloth slightly dampened with water and mild soap. Dry it straight away and avoid abrasive or harsh cleaners.
What size is a stained glass table lamp?
It depends on the model. The table lamps in our collection have shades from 20 to 28 cm wide and are 36.5 to 38 cm high.
