Skip to main content
Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions

How can you tell if Tiffany glass is Favrile?

1 Answer
How can you tell if Tiffany glass is Favrile?
To tell if Tiffany glass is Favrile, first check the piece for markings. Many pieces will have the word "Favrile" etched into an inconspicuous area, such as on the base. The iridescent quality of the glass can also be a good indicator of whether or not it is Favrile. However, it can be difficult to identify without experience and training. As a result, you may wish to consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer if you don't locate a Favrile marking on your piece. Shop a collection of Tiffany glass on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 9, 2024
Shop for Tiffany Studios Lighting on 1stDibs
Tiffany Studios New York Pair of "Caged Lantern" Sconces
By Tiffany Studios
Located in New York, NY
This refined pair of caged lantern sconces features leaf-shaped backplates adorned with elegant palmette hooks. The heat caps are encircled by a decorative frieze of flame-like palme...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York "Belted Turtleback" Chandelier
By Tiffany Studios
Located in New York, NY
The "Belted Turtleback" Chandelier by Tiffany Studios New York is a refined study in monochromatic expression. Separated into three distinct tiers, the conical lamp shade offers a ma...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bronze

Exquisite Tiffany Studios Bronze & Leaded Glass "Feather" Table Lamp, Circa 1915
By Tiffany Studios
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This superb Tiffany Studios table lamp, dating to circa 1915, represents the height of American decorative artistry in the early twentieth century. With its refined conical leaded gl...
Category

Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps

Materials

Cast Stone, Bronze

Tiffany Studios Bronze Harp Floor Lamp with Green Damascene Favrile Glass Shade
By Tiffany Studios
Located in Tarry Town, NY
An exceptional and rare early 20th-century bronze harp floor lamp by the iconic Tiffany Studios, New York, featuring a stunning Favrile glass Damascene shade and exquisite craftsmans...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Floor Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios 3 Light Lily Table Lamp, Base and Shades Signed, ca. 1905
By Tiffany Studios
Located in Petaluma, CA
This beautiful example is the work of the genius glass and lamp maker Louis Comfort Tiffany. The bronze base has a rich warm factory patina and is properly signed under the base. The three iridescent hand blown gold shades are original. They too are all signed "L.C.T., his initials, and that is how he signed his hand blown glass. Be aware that most of these lamps are not sold with the original signed shades which decreases the value by more than half. If you want Tiffany lamps, it's a good idea to have his glass, because that is where is genius was unmatched. A wonderful lamp for someone who wants an authentic Tiffany lamp.
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York "Nautilus" Table Lamp With "Mermaid" Base
By Tiffany Studios
Located in New York, NY
In Tiffany Studios' exquisite "Nautilus" table lamp, a cast bronze mermaid emerges from a churning sea, holding a lighted nautilus shell aloft. This lamp, one of the few patented by Tiffany Studios, received its patent on May 2, 1899, and was featured in Siegfried Bing’s landmark Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibition at the Grafton Galleries. The mermaid base was sculpted by Louis Gudebrod, the only lamp base artist credited by Tiffany Studios. The nautilus shell motif, prominent in European decorative arts of the 17th century, originated from Dutch ships that transported the shells from the South China Sea, some 15,000 miles away. These shells showcased the Dutch Republic's global mercantile strength, and Dutch painters often featured them in still-life works—many of which are now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Inspired by this artistic tradition, Tiffany transformed the iridescent shell into a table lamp. The shell softened and modulated the light, similar to the effect of Tiffany's Favrile glass shades, creating a warm glow reminiscent of the gas lighting familiar to the era. Item #: L-21744 Artist: Tiffany Studios New York Country: United States Circa: 1899 Dimensions: 17.5" height, 4.75" width, 8" deep. Materials: Nautilus shell, Bronze Base Signed: GUDEBROD and Tiffany Studios New York Literature: Alastair Duncan, "Tiffany Lamps and Metalware", Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2007, pg. 86, fig. 336. Macklowe Gallery Curator's Notes: The shape of the exotic nautilus, found in the western Pacific, has long been the muse of architects, artists, and designers. One only has to look to Grecian columns, to spiral staircases, or to the nautilus cups of the sixteenth century for examples. Louis Comfort Tiffany's glass interpretation of the "Nautilus" shell design was first displayed at the Paris Exposition Universelle 1900, where he was displaying the best lamps that he had to offer. By bringing this intricate and difficult-to-make model to the World's Fair, Tiffany was showing the international design world just how well-made and beautiful a Tiffany Studios New York lamp...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Shop All