Tiffany Oil Lamp

Yes, oil lamps are still used today. However, most people utilize oil lamps while camping or during power outages in the U.S. It is uncommon for Americans to light their homes only with oil lamps. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of antique oil lamps.

To use a hanging oil lamp, remove the oil font from the base and fill it three-quarters of the way with clear lamp oil. Return the font and close the base. Twist the knob to raise the wick until it is a little less than 0.25 inches above the burner. Light with a match or lighter. After extinguishing and allowing time for cooling, trim the burned end off of the wick. You'll find a collection of hanging oil lamps on 1stDibs.

People began using early versions of oil lamps for spiritual purposes during ancient times. References to oil-burning lamps are found in both the Torah and the Bible. Oil lamps became popular for everyday use lighting homes and businesses in the late 19th century with the advent of the kerosene lamp. Shop a selection of antique oil lamps on 1stDibs.

The Victorian oil lamp was designed in 1792 by inventor Ami Argan. What made this lamp unique to the ones that preceded it is the unique shape, featuring a long glass shaft that aids the illumination of the lamp. Browse a collection of vintage Victorian oil lamps on 1stDibs.

To tell if a Tiffany lamp is valuable, first examine its features carefully. Its age, base, glass pattern, glass quality and overall condition will all play a role in determining its value. After you have a feel for the characteristics of your piece, you can investigate what similar lamps have sold for in the past at auctions and on online platforms. Another way to learn the value of your lamp is to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer evaluate it. On 1stDibs, explore a range of Tiffany lamps.

To identify a Tiffany table lamp, first take a close look at the base. Some pieces will bear a stamp or label that says, "Tiffany Studios," and newer lamps may also feature a serial number. By comparing the number and markings to information and images shared by trusted online resources, you can begin the identification process. If your lamp isn't marked, the base construction can provide more clues about the maker. Tiffany lamps usually feature bronze bases that feel weighty. Older models typically have a gray metal ring on their bottoms as well. In addition to examining the base, try turning the lamp on for a while and then touching the stained glass shade. Tiffany lamps tend to stay cool due to the thickness of the glass, so if yours feels hot, it may be the work of a different manufacturer. When in doubt, use the identification services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop a collection of Tiffany lamps on 1stDibs.

A genuine Tiffany lamp is quite expensive. It can cost anywhere between $4,000 to well over $1 million depending on how big it is and what year it was made.

To tell if a Tiffany lamp is real, flip it over to reveal the base and pull up the cap. If you see a dull gray ring, you likely have an authentic lamp. Real Tiffany pieces feature a lead ring. Replicas usually use brass, zinc, painted metal, wood or plastic instead of lead. Find a variety of expertly vetted Tiffany lamps on 1stDibs.

A Tiffany lamp costs between $4,000 to $1 million, on average. The most expensive Tiffany lamp sold at auction for $2.8 million. These lamps are so expensive because they are handmade and not mass produced.

No, Tiffany Studios no longer makes lamps. On the secondhand market, antique Tiffany Studios table lamps and other decorative glass objects are the most recognizable and prized of the manufactory’s works. 

The hand-crafted kerosene and early electric lighting fixtures created at Tiffany Studios now rank among the most coveted decorative objects in the world. Tiffany designs of any kind are emblematic of taste and craftsmanship, and Tiffany glass refers to far more than stained-glass windows and decorative glass objects. The iconic multimedia studio’s offerings include stained-glass floor lamps, chandeliers and enameled metal vases. 

The name Tiffany generally prompts thoughts of two things: splendid gifts in robin’s-egg blue boxes and exquisite stained glass. In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany co-founded the former — Tiffany & Co., one of America’s most prominent purveyors of luxury goods — while his son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, is responsible for exemplars of the latter.

Louis Comfort Tiffany was undoubtedly the most influential and accomplished American decorative artist in the decades that spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And while the lion’s share of credit for Tiffany Studios table lamps and other fixtures has gone to Louis, it was actually Clara Driscoll (1861–1944), an Ohio native and head of the Women’s Glass Cutting Department for 17 years, who was the genius behind the Tiffany lamps that are most avidly sought by today’s collectors.

Find antique Tiffany Studios lamps on 1stDibs.

1stDibs sells a variety of high-quality Tiffany-style lamps at various price points. Some are from the mid-century modern movement and others are from the Art Deco period.