Pair of Brass Ostrich Egg Wall Sconces, 1990
About the Item
- Creator:Stiffel (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 14.75 in (37.47 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. These are the original finish and string shades.
- Seller Location:Westport, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU91081338634
Stiffel
When Ted Stiffel (1899–1971) founded Stiffel in 1932 in Chicago, he wanted to make functional, thoughtfully designed table lamps and other fixtures that were available at an accessible price. Born in Memphis, Stiffel first pursued a career in music before serving in World War I. After his discharge, he worked with the Western Electric Company in Chicago and then the Nellie J. Kaplan Company, a lighting firm also in the Windy City.
After he started his own lamp business, Stiffel began supplying area department stores and by the 1940s had opened a large factory that was producing lamps for nationwide sale, eventually competing with the likes of the Frederick Cooper Lamp Company, also based in Chicago. In 1948, designer Edwin J. Cole joined the company and created some of the firm’s most striking table lamps. Today, Cole’s vintage mid-century modern lighting fixtures for Stiffel, frequently with distinctively tall and shapely ceramic bodies and finished with decorative brass chinoiserie details, are highly prized by collectors.
One of Stiffel’s innovations was his patented switch, which simplified turning lights on and off: All someone had to do was grasp a lamp’s pole and gently pull down. He also designed a pole lamp with a vertical tube that held a series of fixtures on the outside. The upright pole lamp was so innovative that Sears, Roebuck and Company copied it. Stiffel sued, and the case ended up in the Supreme Court in 1964. The ruling against Stiffel was influential in whether states can give a patent to objects that do not have the invention required of federal patents.
After declaring bankruptcy in 2000, the brand was revived in 2013 in Linden, New Jersey, where newly produced high-quality lamps carry the Stiffel name.
Find a collection of vintage Stiffel lighting on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Westport, CT
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Pair of Venetian Gold Fleck SconcesLocated in Westport, CTPr Venetian Gold fleck Glass SconcesCategory
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
- Pair of Art Deco Polished Steel Skyscraper SconcesLocated in Westport, CTArt Deco skyscraper polished steel sconces, three-tier design. With perforated small dots throughout design to let the light glow up down and eliminate.Category
Vintage 1930s American Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsSteel
- Pair of Curtis Jere Style Polished Bronze Modernist SconcesBy Curtis JeréLocated in Westport, CTCurtis Jere style pair of bronze hand-wrought modernist sculptural sconces.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
- Set of Four French 1930 SconcesBy Verlys GlassLocated in Westport, CTFrench crystal sconces two pair, circa 1930.Category
Vintage 1930s French Wall Lights and Sconces
- Murano Glass Rod SconcesBy Compagnia Di Venezia E Murano (C.V.M.)Located in Westport, CTPair of glass rod and polished chrome sconces, stamped Murano.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsChrome
- Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors SconcesBy Carl FagerlundLocated in Westport, CTCarl Fagerlund for Orrefors, pair molded glass rippled half moon shaped polished chrome ball modernist sconces.Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsChrome
- Pair of Ostrich Egg Wall Sconces by Anthony RedmileBy Anthony Redmile LondonLocated in Palm Beach, FLImpressive pair of vintage wall sconces with an eccentric mix of materials featuring ostrich eggs decorated with amethyst stones, antelope...Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsAmethyst, Metal
- Ostrich Egg Shell & Cast Brass Arm SconceBy Dogfork Lamp ArtsLocated in San Francisco, CAWe used this pristine Ostrich egg with a beautiful texture to compose this wall lamp with a cast brass arm, backplate, and shade cover in an oil rubbed bronz...Category
2010s American Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Egg Shaped Murano Glass Wall SconcesLocated in Saint-Ouen, IDFPair of wall ovoid shaped wall sconces made of two tinted Murano glass shells with brass decors.Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- 1990s Pair of Double Bronze Wall SconceLocated in Marbella, ES1990s pair of double bronze wall sconce, embossed with ornamental motifs, flower garland and topped with a laced knot.Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Wall Lights and Sconces
- Pair of Brass Wall Lantern -SconcesLocated in Delray Beach, FLPair of elegant wall sconces hand crafted from solid brass beautiful patina, with one 60/watt light each, projecting the light upward, great decorative fixture for any location indoo...Category
20th Century American Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Natural Brass Wall SconcesLocated in Saint-Ouen, IDFPair of wall sconces made of natural brass with two inner lights per sconce. Straight backplate on which are coming two curved brass sheets, with the light escaping from the gap b...Category
2010s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass
