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.
Art Deco Brass Desk or Table Lamp by Stiffel, circa 1970s
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial Art Deco style brass desk or table lamp, circa 1970s. Lamp has a beautiful, graduated design, a detail reminiscent during the Art Deco period of the 1930s...
Brass
Jacques Adnet Art Deco Crystal Balls Table Lamp, France, 1930s
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Jacques Adnet Art Deco crystal balls table lamp, France, 1930s. Stamped made in France. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vi...
Crystal, Bronze
Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano, circa 1950
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano circa 1950 A rare millefiori murrine glass desk lamp manufactured by Vetreria Fratelli Toso, Murano around 1950. Made of blue glass with melted white and green glass threads and polycrome murrine. Surface with satinated finish. The lamp is an authentic example of early 20th century Murano art glass. It was part of a large Fratelli Toso glass collection with over 600 pieces - collected since the 1970s. Working condition. It features an E14 European socket. Fratelli Toso was one of the leading art glass manufacturers of Murano in the 20th century. In the early 1900's Fratelli Toso started to produce glasses in murrine technique. Murrine and Millefiori glasses remained a major product field of Fratelli Toso. In 1912 a very successful series of liberty inspired art glasses, designed by Hans Stoltenberg Lerche...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Early 20th Century Bronze Knight Sculpture Electrified Table or Desk Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A solid bronze parcel brass knight sculpture candelabra later converted to electrified table lamp with large frosted glass torch flame shade. It takes on Edison E27 light bulb. Tot...
Brass, Bronze
Art Deco Uplight Brass Metal Table Lamp, French, 1930s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
A lovely example of Art Deco that shows great style and imagination is this French table lamp trumpet shape. Cream coloured on the inside and takes a normal bulb, you can use energy ...
Brass
Ghidini 1961 Bullet Table Lamp in Brass by Studio Job
By Studio Job (Job Smeets & Nynke Tynagel), Ghidini 1961
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Table lamp in brass and metalized glass. Materials: Brass and metallic glass Net weight: 4.8 kg Dimensions: Diameter 17 x 54 height cm.
Brass
Art Deco Style Chrome or Silveroid Desk Timepiece
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely Art Deco style chrome or silveroid desk timepiece. Probably made circa 1980. The case is a solid circular shaped chrome or sil...
Silver Plate, Chrome
$2,510
H 20.3 in W 4.8 in D 10 in
Cubic3 Dutch Design Table or Desk Lamp "Nachtschade", Nightshade Plants Inspired
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique, adjustable and rotational, stylized plant table lamp, from 1987. This rare and interesting table lamp is number 65 of a limited edition of only 100 and one of the others is in the famous Dutch "Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen". Illuminate your workspace with "Nightshade", the innovative desk lamp that blends functionality with botanical beauty. Crafted by hand this adjustable lamp brings a touch of artisanal charm to your desk or sidetable. Designers Ton Hoogerwerf en Gerwen van Vulpen must have been inspired by this particular group / family of plants (a family that grows particularly well in the night and in the shade, hence the name Night-shade) and the result of their design ideas has become a collector's item at home and abroad. Obviously for a lamp to have such a design and such a name makes this work of lighting art a true result of fresh creativity. The bottom part represents the flower pot, then the stem with the leaves and at the end the flower with the bulb as a stamen. Cubic 3 Design...
Brass, Copper, Nickel
Tiffany Style Leaded Glass Bankers Desk Lamp Table Lamp, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Tiffany Style Banker’s desk lamp, France, 1950-1959. Fabulous, tall adjustable desk or table lamp with a beautiful hand-painted glass lampshade...
Bronze
$2,183
H 19.5 in Dm 13.75 in
Midcentury Stilnovo Desk or Table Lamp Brass Black Enameled Metal, Iataly, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Midcentury Stilnovo two-light desk or table lamp in brass with black enameled metal base and shade (inside off-white), Italy, 1950s. Beautiful, minimalistic design and in very good v...
Metal, Brass
$1,167
H 16.3 in Dm 13.4 in
Mid-Century Modern Blackened and Chrome Metal Circular Shade Table or Desk Lamp
By Louis Kalff
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish and rare midcentury modern desk lamp in the manner of Louis Kalff. Both figuratively and literally, this 1950s or 60s fixture is perfect for bringing light to your Mid-Centu...
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Murano Glass Table Lamp with White Marble Base, Italy, 1970s
Located in Lisse, NL
A striking Murano glass table lamp from the 1970s, handcrafted in Italy. This sculptural piece features a hand-blown glass globe with a captivating clear and frosted gradient finish,...
Marble, Chrome
Tiffany Style Stained Glass Table Lamp or Desk Lamp, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Fabulous, tall Tiffany Style stained Glass and bronze adjustable Banker’s desk lamp or Table lamp, France, 1950-1959. Beautiful hand-painted glass lampshade made with the Tiffany tec...
Bronze