Beauty in Glass:
A Tiffany Lamp Exhibit
Since the first Galaudet Gallery curated exhibit of Tiffany replica lamps in 2015, the gallery has hosted, lent and participated in several other exhibits reveling in the "beauty of light". Researching, authenticating and bringing new views to these beautiful lights, Galaudet Gallery sibling curators Michael Milewski and Vicki Milewski have worked with over 50 different Tiffany replica lamp styles and have become accustomed to the higher quality Tiffany Style Lamps available today. There is an exhibit catalog with wonderful pictures and fascinating information about a selection of the lamps displayed just click on the button below.
"God has given us our talents, not to copy the talents of others, but rather to use our brains and imagination in order to obtain the revelation of true beauty."—Louis Comfort Tiffany
Following are just a few of the wonderful lamps on offer.
Spiral Dragonfly Lamp
Design attributed to Louis C. Tiffany
Hanging Head Dragonfly Lamp (Twilight)
Design attributed to Clara Driscoll
The first Tiffany lamp was created around 1895. Each lamp was handmade by skilled craftsmen; although, Tiffany's craftsmen did use patterns to make each lampshade, each was unique due to the selection of the individual pieces of glass with their varied colors and densities. This uniqueness continues to this day as found in the lamps offered by Galaudet Gallery sourced from companies utilizing patterns made from existing Tiffany lamps and who have craftsman individually set each piece of glass. Each lamp is carefully researched to determine if it is a Tiffany replica or just in the style of Tiffany. Tiffany lamps are consider part of the Art Nouveau movement (i) and have specific characteristics as opposed to Tiffany style lamps which may only share the use of colored glass with the Tiffany legacy.
Galaudet Gallery’s Tiffany replica lamp exhibit “Beauty in Glass” shows the delightful purpose Tiffany lamps serve. Louis Comfort Tiffany (ii) is the artist who innovated how glass was colored and created while also making the lamp designs still sought after 100 years later. He said his goal of life was the “pursuit of beauty” and we all are the better for it. The molds from the original lamps are now used in the creation of Tiffany replica lamps. The beautiful colors when lit bring to life natural scenes and designs that have a philosophic foundation and a gardener’s sense of nature.
Galaudet Gallery’s Beauty in Glass: A Tiffany Lamp Exhibit will travel to other venues after its first stop in Eau Claire for the holidays of 2015.
Please view the wonderful Beauty In Glass Exhibition Catalog by clicking this button:
Lotus Blossom Tiffany Replica Lamp
Design attributed to Louis C. Tiffany
Detail of Wisteria Tiffany Replica Lamp
Design attributed to Louis C. Tiffany
This table lamp has a metal base made to look like the original Tiffany bronze base and two pull chains or an inline switch
The dragonflies are pictured during sunrise or sunset with the upper heavens a darker blue and the lower sky with just a small but of sun
The red jewel eyes of each of these dragonflies shine even during the day because of their round brilliance.
This table lamp has a metal base made to look like the original Tiffany bronze base and two pull chains or an inline switch
Blue Dragonfly Lamp
This Tiffany Replica Lamp has exquisite jewels and cabochons. The red jewel eyes in each of the dragonflies shine even during the day. The large blue and amber cabochons have three different sizes and are so thoroughly colorized that they have an inner glow.
Dimensions:
Total Measurements: 29"H x 19"W
Shade is: 13"H x 19"
What makes this lamp so exceptional is its dramatic and highly contrasting glass selection, exhibiting golden flames projecting below the top aperture of the shade. The rich background passages heighten the perception and brilliance of the cabochon jewels. The aquatic color scheme suggests a sense of the natural world, adding to the dream-like quality evoked by the glass selection.
This is an exquisite lamp which shows the lotus blossoms on the lip of the shade and their stems growing upward to the top of the shade. 25"H x 12"W Shade is 15” H X 12” W
The Tiffany Replication is so complete that the lotuses on the base are made to look not only brass but also antique with a heirloom patina.
The perspective of this lamp is striking in that the roots of the lotus flowers (which are usually underwater) are on the top part of the shade in wonderful hues of green while the peach and creme blossoms edge the lip of the shade making irregular irregular and quite beautiful
This is an exquisite lamp which shows the lotus blossoms on the lip of the shade and their stems growing upward to the top of the shade. 25"H x 12"W Shade is 15” H X 12” W
This is one of the closest Tiffany reproductions from the original Tiffany design. Each dragonfly has glowing amber jeweled eyes and bodies of slightly varied rectangular and glistening glass in shades of tangerine, clementine and carrot.
Due to the high quality of craftsmanship this lamp actually shows the swirling dragonflies when it is reflected in a window. I’ve tried to capture the effect in the photos, but to really enjoy it you must visit us during the evening.
This is one of the closest Tiffany reproductions from the original Tiffany design. Each dragonfly has glowing amber jeweled eyes and bodies of slightly varied rectangular and glistening glass in shades of tangerine, clementine and carrot.
Lotus Lamp
This shade shows the Lotus flowers underwater with the green, brown and blue rectangular glass representing the water that each lotus sinks into during the night. Each morning actual lotus flowers rise from a pond’s water and then after sunset the flowers actually go underneath the water to wait for the new day.
Dimensions:
Total Measurements 25"H x 12"W
Shade is 15” H X 12” W
Construction: This Tiffany Reproduction light features hand rolled art glass construction where each piece of glass has been hand placed. No two pieces are exactly alike, making each design a treasured keepsake. This lamp uses two 40W bulbs on the bottom and four 15 W bulbs on top.
Swirling Dragonfly Lamp
This is an enchanting Tiffany reproduction stained glass globe shaped shade. The orange bodied dragonflies have delicate metal filigree wings over hand cut glass and they swirl playfully against a setting sun colored sky. This elegant table lamp has a scallop border dotted with jewel glass in blue, red and green.
Dimensions:
Total height: 35" x 18"W
Shade: 12"H x 18"W
Construction: This stained glass lamp is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Uses 3 regular 100 watt bulbs. Three pull chains, one for each bulb, have a hardware of a warm hand finished mahogany color. and an in cord on/off switch.
The Wisteria Lamp
The Wisteria lamp model, designed by Clara Driscoll in 1901, is one of the most iconic lamp designs produced by Tiffany Studios. Its complex pattern is comprised of nearly 2,000 pieces of glass that had to be individually selected and cut. Consequently, each Wisteria lamp possesses its own distinct color variations. This particular example displays an exquisite range of deep cobalt blue and violet, delicately balanced with softer pastel tonalities to show the dimensionality of the dripping wisteria clusters.
Construction: This Tiffany Reproduction light features hand rolled art glass construction where each piece of glass has been hand placed. No two pieces are exactly alike, making each lamp a treasured keepsake work of art. This lamp uses 3 reveal 60 watt bulbs. There are three pull chains, one for each light bulb and an in cord on/off switch.
Beauty In Glass: A Tiffany Replica Lamp Exhibit
This exhibit introduces Galaudet Gallery's work on bringing awareness to the Arts and Crafts Movement which is seeing a resurgence that Galaudet Gallery calls 21st Century Art Movement which seeks to unify the arts with high quality crafts seen as art and in this unification strengthen the potential and opportunities for creators. The craftsmanship of the lamps is high quality with the stained and painted glass all hand placed. Some use Tiffany Studio molds that mean the shades are just like the original only without the stress cracks and fissures the originals contain.
Footnotes
(i) Art Nouveau was a movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and sought to “modernize’ design and create a more democratic view of all the arts so that craft would be on the same level as painting. Artists drew inspiration from both nature and Euclidean geometry attempting to unite the two. Art Nouveau (New Art) is seen today as an important step to modernity which was at first a rejection of the replication of older styles mainly because they were poorly made, once the industrial revolution created the factory’s of today, Art Nouveau was replaced by Art Deco in the 1920’s and the cult of the new began its walk toward the contemporary times.
(ii) Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848--1933) was one of the most creative and prolific designers of the late 19th-century who declared that his life-long goal was “the pursuit of beauty.” Tiffany’s aesthetic was based on his conviction that nature should be the primary source of design inspiration