How to Identify a Tiffany Lamp

Tiffany lamps are among the most recognizable and sought-after pieces of decorative art from the late 19th and early 20th century. Designed and produced by Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Tiffany Studios in New York, these lamps are prized for their vibrant stained-glass shades and exquisite craftsmanship. But because they are so valuable, reproductions and fakes are everywhere. Here’s how to tell if you’ve found the real thing.

A Short History of Tiffany Lamps

Louis Comfort Tiffany, a leader of the Art Nouveau movement, began making his famous glass lamps in the 1890s through the 1930s. Each lamp was hand-crafted with pieces of colored Favrile glass soldered together in intricate patterns—floral, geometric, dragonfly, and peacock motifs being among the most famous. Authentic Tiffany lamps are now museum-quality pieces, with some selling for hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars.

Keyways to Identify a Tiffany Lamp

1. Check the Mark

• Authentic Tiffany lamps often carry a stamped mark on the base or shade:

  • “Tiffany Studios New York” followed by a number.

  • Sometimes just “Tiffany Studios” or “Louis C. Tiffany.”

• Beware: Some reproductions also include a fake stamp. Look for correct spacing, font, and placement.

2. Examine the Glass

• Tiffany’s glass is unique. Look for:

  • Favrile glass (iridescent, shimmering surface).

  • Rich marbling and depth of color, never flat or uniform.

  • Subtle variations in each piece—because they were hand-selected.

3. Shade Design

• Patterns are among the easiest ways to spot authenticity. Genuine Tiffany shades feature:

  • Dragonflies with jeweled eyes.

  • Peacocks with vibrant tail feathers.

  • Wisteria, lotus, daffodil, and poppy floral designs.

• The soldering (lead seams) should be neat, smooth, and darkened with age—not shiny and new.

4. Lamp Base

• Bases were typically made of heavy bronze.

• Many were decorated with organic or Art Nouveau motifs.

• A real Tiffany lamp feels substantial—cheap reproductions are often too light.

How to Spot a Reproduction

• Uniform glass with little variation = reproduction.

• Poor soldering or gaps in the leadwork.

• Lightweight or cheaply cast bases.

• No patina (authentic Tiffany bases usually show a rich green or brown patina from age).

• A price that seems too good to be true—it usually is.

Value and Collectability

• Genuine Tiffany lamps can range from $10,000 for smaller examples to $1,000,000+ for rare, elaborate shades.

• Condition, design rarity, and authenticity all play huge roles in determining value.

Final Thoughts

Identifying an authentic Tiffany lamp requires attention to detail: the mark, the quality of the glass, the design of the shade, and the weight and patina of the base.

At Afternoon Estate Sales, we can help you identify and Tiffany lamps as part of our estate sale services.