Stiffel Bronze, Crackled Porcelain Lamps
About the Item
- Creator:Stiffel (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Diameter: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Rewired.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU831825753202
Stiffel
When Ted Stiffel (1899–1971) founded Stiffel in 1932 in Chicago, he wanted to make functional, thoughtfully designed table lamps, floor 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 lamps and other lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Stiffel Bronze, Bone Crackle Glazed LampsBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of Mid Century Porcelain lamps in a cream color crackle glaze with brown horizontal striations. Lamps mounted on custom finished bronze bases and have been rewired by a professi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBronze
- Crackle Glazed Porcelain and Brass Lamps by StiffelBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of classically styled crackled glazed ceramic lamps on satin brass bases. Rewired for use in the USA. Shades not included.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Stiffel Jade Green Porcelain LampsBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of Midcentury jade green glazed porcelain lamps with satin brass hardware. Lamps have been rewired for use in the USA, double cluster sockets can...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Stiffel Brass Candlestick LampsBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of Midcentury classically styled brushed brass candlestick lamps with enameled centers. Rewired for use in USA, 100W max bulbs.Category
20th Century American American Classical Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Stiffel Aged Brass Lotus LampsBy Stiffel, Tommi ParzingerLocated in New York, NYMidcentury stylized lotus lamps in a custom aged bronze/brass finish. Lamps have been rewired for use in USA, uses edison type bulbs up to 100 watts. Lamps have on/off switch at base...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Stiffel Satin Brass and White Ceramic LampsBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of Mid-Century classically styled lamps featuring satin brass bodies with white glazed ceramic modified Ostrich egg shaped centers. Rewired with brass sockets and new cords. 100...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Stiffel White Crackle Glazed Ceramic and Brass Table LampsBy StiffelLocated in Chicago, ILPair of heavy bodied, white craquelure glazed ceramic table lamps. Patinated brass appointments from the best days of American premier lighting company, Stiffel. Sold sans shades.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Pair Tall Stiffel Brass & White Porcelain LampsBy StiffelLocated in Chicago, ILTwo vintage Stiffel table lamps, with brass bases and columns, and octagonal urn-form white porcelain bodies. Gilt trim to white porcelain...Category
Vintage 1960s American Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Stiffel Midcentury White Porcelain and Brass Table LampBy StiffelLocated in Buchanan, NYThis single vintage brass and porcelain Stiffel table lamp features a charming pineapple brass detail atop a white porcelain base. In very good vintage condition, it adds a touch of ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Tall Mid-Century Modern White Crackle Glaze Ceramic and Brass Lamp by StiffelBy StiffelLocated in Oklahoma City, OKA tall ceramic and brass torchère style table lamp by Stiffel. A rare find, this circular lamp with white crackle glaze, has long been a difficult find for Stiffel lovers. The ro...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Pair Stiffel Porcelain Obelisk & Decorative Brass Table Lamps.By StiffelLocated in Chicago, ILPair of Stiffel neoclassical table lamps with Lenox porcelain obelisk bodies detailed in gilt edging. Wood base with brass feet, brass decorative pineapple and leafed spacer. Brass s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Brass and Porcelain Table Lamps by Stiffel, a PairBy StiffelLocated in Bradenton, FLA pair of Art Deco table lamps made by Stiffel. Beveled brass caps decorated with a palm leaf motif and a beaded trim sit atop ovoid shaped porcelain vases in sage green. The brass b...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
