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.
$644Sale Price / set|20% Off
Stiffel Enamel Brass Candlestick Lamps with Dupioni Silk Shades
By Stiffel
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Lighting Acquisitions Of A Pair of Vintage Stiffel Enamel...
Brass, Enamel
Set of Four Enamelled and Gilded Brass Candlesticks circa 1970
Located in London, GB
These simply formed gilded brass candlesticks are richly decorated with colorful enamel detailing in red, black, and blue. Their restrained silhouettes provide a refined backdrop for...
Brass, Enamel
$3,250 / set
H 20 in Dm 12 in
Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candlestick Lamps with Orange Silk Shades
Located in Pembroke, MA
Pair of handsome 19th century French gilt bronze and patinated bronze candlesticks in the restoration style. The candlesticks have been wired as lamps and fitted with pleated orange ...
Bronze
$1,250 / set
H 14 in Dm 4.13 in
Pair of Antique Silver Plated Electrified Candlesticks Lamps with Shades
Located in Sheffield, MA
Slim and elegant, the pair of early 19th century English silver-on-copper candlesticks have been electrified for modern flame bulbs. The lamps have been weighted at the bottom and ha...
Silver Plate
Rams Horn Candlestick with Brass Accents
Located in Asheville, NC
This large rams horn has a wonderful shape and a wonderful aged finish. The horn has been topped with a bronze candle holder and rests on three brass ball feet.
Bronze
Brass Pineapple Candlestick
Located in Stamford, CT
1930s brass pineapple candlestick. Weighted bottom. No makers mark or signature.
Brass
Enameled Bronze Cobra Snake Candlestick
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period bronze and enameled cobra form candlestick Circa Early 20th Century Measures: 7"W x 8.25"D x 8.25"H. Good original vintage cond...
Bronze, Enamel
$2,700 / set
H 16 in Dm 5 in
Pair Antique 19th Century French Baccarat Crystal Candlesticks with Shades
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique late 19th century signed Baccarat crystal candlesticks with shades. Beautiful etched cut crystal.
Crystal
19th Century Viennese Enamel Candlesticks
Located in New Orleans, LA
Splendid continuous hand-painted scenes adorn these graceful and rare Viennese silver and enamel candlesticks. Adorned with scenes of gods and goddesses from classical mythology, these lights are executed with exceptional detail and artistry. A fantastic testament to the skilled artisans of Austria, they exemplify remarkable design and craftsmanship. Enameling is one of the oldest forms of decorative art with examples dating back almost 3,000 years to Mycenaean Greece. The methods used in the enameling process have changed very little since that time. Enamel is actually glass colored with metallic pigments that are fused to metal by firing. Because different colors fire at different temperatures, it was essential that the artist paint the colors that required the highest heat first, adding the others in descending order of their firing temperature. The forte of the Viennese enamellers...
Silver
$900Sale Price|25% Off
H 17.25 in W 5.5 in D 4.25 in
Vintage Brass Candlesticks With Sun Motif 1970's USA
Located in North Miami, FL
These wonderful pair of vintage brass candlesticks have a bit of Tony Duquette whimsy. From the 70's The sun motif is very Piero Fornasetti style and influen...
Brass
MidCentury Brass Siam Candlesticks
Located in Evanston, IL
Chic and handsome pair of midcentury Siam candlesticks - just enough boho flair to add interest to a modern room
Brass
$1,100 / set
H 12.5 in Dm 4.5 in
Pair Antique American Gorham Sterling Silver Candlesticks with Hurricane Shades
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique American Gorham Hallmarked Sterling Silver Candlesticks with Etched Glass Hurricane Shades, Circa 1900's.
Sterling Silver
$280Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4.14 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in
Dutch Candlesticks with Glass Shades, Floral Motif, Late 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
20th-Century Two Candlesticks With Glass Shades Two Dutch candlesticks with glass shades. Metal base, the removable shade decorated with a floral motif.
Glass