Stiffel Lighting
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.
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Creator: Stiffel
Pair of Stiffel Fluted and Studded Brass Urn Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Large studded and fluted brass table lamps from the best years of Stiffel, the fine lamp maker. Black lacquered bases feature subtle chamfered feet. Surmounting the brass urns are br...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$2,437 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Stiffel Brass Tulip Shade Floor Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass stemmed and tulip shade torchiere with four arched legs.
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair Mid Century Modern Stiffel Brass Finial Shape Table Lamps Marble Bases MINT
By Stiffel, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair Mid Century Modern Stiffel Brass Finial Shape Table Lamps Square Marble Bases MINT!
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Bronze, Bone Crackle Glazed Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Pair 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 Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$4,500 / set
Stiffel Art Deco Revival Brass Desk or Table Fan Lamp Uplight, circa 1970s
By Stiffel
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Stiffel Art Deco Revival brass table or desk lamp, circa 1970s. The lamp is in the shape of a fan and creates a wonderful uplight. Works as it should. In very nice conditio...
Category
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$780 Sale Price
20% Off
Stiffel Tall Table Lamp or Low Floor Lamp Midcentury Brass and Brushed Stainless
By Stiffel
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome and versatile Stiffel lamp comprised of brass and brushed stainless steel. It can be used as an over-scaled table lamp or a lower than usual floor lamp. It is in fabulous vi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Brass Lotus Motif Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Pair of Stiffel Patinated Brass Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of patinated solid brass baluster form 52" table lamps. Traditional Machine Age bases with flared section bodies that finish with a poppy flower bobeche. Lacquered ivory metal s...
Category
1960s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$3,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Tall Mid-Century Modern White Crackle Glaze Ceramic and Brass Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A 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 Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
$1,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Stiffel Fluted Walnut and Brass Table Lamp, 1950s
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Table lamp with four-point base in fluted walnut and brass by Stiffel, 1950s.
Category
1950s American Modern Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of 1960's Stiffel Brass Art Deco Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in East Freetown, MA
Pair of art deco brass Stiffel tall table lamps. Lamps have detailed brass bases with four candlestick columns and two sockets. Lampshades are available at additional shipping cost.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$959 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair Stiffel Porcelain Obelisk & Decorative Brass Table Lamps.
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair 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
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Mahogany & Brass Open Base Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Exceptionally designed mahogany and brass open base table lamp by Stiffel. Tapered mahogany body topped with a brass stem and brass bobeche. Brass base is an open circle with four br...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Brass Candlestick Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Pair 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 Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$2,800 / set
Stiffel Brass Swivel Arm Floor Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a swivel arm floor lamp. This floor lamp is made by the Stiffel Lighting Co. It's brass with a wooden knob on the shade.
This lamp will make a great addition to any home.
Category
20th Century American Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$712 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Stiffel White Glass Column French Hollywood Regency Table Lamps - a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel White Glass Column French Hollywood Regency Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 36" H (to finial) x 23" H (to light socket) x 5" W x 5" D. {3...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Metal
Neoclassical Tripod Base Brass Table Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel, Edwin Cole
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass neoclassical dual socket table lamp by Stiffel. The base is an antiqued solid brass tripod with Italianate legs and a segmented baluster. The switch pulls chains end in a unique turned wood finial. Quite impressive in size and form. Most likely an Edwin Cole design...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Nickel Plated Open Spiral Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Danville, CA
Pair of solid Nickel plated steel Spiral cage form lamps on black enamel mounted base. The lamps, including new Nickel plated brass sockets and mountings have been replated and rest...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Steel
$2,500 / set
Stiffel Brass Table Lamp Mid Century Modern Stacked Orbits Jacks Base Pattern
By Tommi Parzinger, Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Tall sharp looking brass table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vintage Stiffel Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning vintage MCM table lamp. Made by the iconic Stiffel group. A chic brilliant blue glazed ceramic body with heavy brass details. Acquired from a...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Midcentury American Ceramic White Lava Glaze Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American ceramic table lamp in globular form, the tapered hourglass neck topped by a brass saucer cap and functioning brass light switch socket, the body fired in a matte white lava glaze with a molten pebble-like texture, resting on a ringed cylindrical foot...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Brass Table Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Stifle Brass Table Lamp
By Tommi Parzinger, Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice brass stiffel table lamp.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
$2,200
Pair of Brass Ostrich Egg Wall Sconces, 1990
By Stiffel
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of brass and ostrich egg large Hollywood Regency style sconces.
Category
Late 20th Century American Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
$4,200 / set
Large Vintage Hollywood Regency Stiffel Ceramic Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Large Vintage Hollywood Regency Stiffel ceramic Lamp. Style of Tommi Parzinger. A beautiful purple glaze on this ceramic base.
some ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Hollywood Regency Stiffel Co. Brass and Ebonized Column Form Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Stiffel Co. brass and ebonized column form table lamps each signed. Each done in the Hollywood Regency Fashion of metal brass and ebony design with milk glass globes.
Category
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Stiffel Lighting
Mid-Century Stiffel Solid Brass and Glass Galleried Smokers Floor Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid-Century Stiffel Regency Solid Brass and Glass Galleried Table Smokers Floor lamp with solid brass trip pod snake feet. Measures 17" in width, 17" in d...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Regency Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Original Stiffel Tension Rod Brass Floor Light
By Stiffel
Located in North Miami, FL
Vintage midcentury lamp from the 1950s consists of 6 illuminating arms on an all brass adjustable tension pole. A single dial switch turns on the floor lamp. The height is semi adjustable, the top of the pole is spring loaded and can be lowered depending on your ceiling height.
Note: Tension rod...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Regency Stiffel Figurative Lamps - a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This pair of vintage Regency Stiffel figurative lamps exudes elegance and sophistication, featuring intricately detailed figures that capture the opulent style of the Regency era. Cr...
Category
Late 20th Century American Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Modern Stiffel Striped Pottery Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Sarasota, FL
Lovely tall bottle form lamp in a striped decor.
Brass and pottery.
Fine condition
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Mid-Century Polished Solid Brass and Porcelain Colunm Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Germantown, MD
Stiffel Mid-Century Polished Solid Brass and Porcelain Colunm Table Lamp.
Measures 7" in width, 7" in depth and 23" in height to the top of the light socket, 30" in height to the top...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Stiffel Heavy Brass and Porcelain Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Germantown, MD
An exquisite pair of Victorian style solid brass and porcelain table lamps by Stiffel. Very good vintage condition. Comes with Stiffel original shades in good vintage condition. Meas...
Category
Late 20th Century American Late Victorian Stiffel Lighting
Materials
Brass
Stiffel lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Stiffel lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Stiffel lighting, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original lighting by Stiffel were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Robert Sonneman, Gerald Thurston, and The Marbro Lamp Company. Prices for Stiffel lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $160 and can go as high as $7,750, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,975.
Creators Similar to Stiffel
Questions About Stiffel Lighting
- Are Stiffel lamps made in China?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Stiffel lamps are not made in China. The Stiffel Lamp Company was founded in 1932 in Chicago and throughout its many years in business, they proudly still produce all their products in America. Browse a selection of Stiffel lamps on 1stDibs.
- Are Stiffel lamps valuable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021No, Stiffel lamps are not extremely valuable. These lamps typically sell for anywhere between $100 and $500. These lamps are high quality, however, and will last a lifetime.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024To identify a Stiffel lamp, first try to locate the brand's foil tag. Usually, the tag will read "SLC," “Stiffel Lamp Company" or “Stiffel.” You may find it on the shade, the base or the light socket. Because these tags tended to come loose over time, a vintage Stiffel lamp may no longer have one. If you can't find a label, examine your lamp closely. Stiffel has produced lamps out of high-quality bronze, brass, pewter and silver, so their pieces tend to be weighty. A light lamp that seems hollow is unlikely to be a Stiffel. Looking at images of Stiffel lamps shared on trusted online resources can also be helpful during the identification process. In addition, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can identify your lamp for you if you run into any difficulty. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Stiffel lamps.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Stiffel lamps are still in production. With a variety of lamp styles available, the Stiffel Lamp Company has a rich history rooted in unique, art-driven design made with high-quality materials. On 1stDibs, find a unique collection of authentic Stiffel lamps.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify a Stiffel brass lamp, look for the maker's markings, which may include “Stiffel Lamp Company," "SLC" or “Stiffel." Locations of markings varied over time, and they appeared in the form of both etched signatures and foiled labels. Check your lamp’s switch, shade, bulb interior, neck and base for these markings. If you can't find a Stiffel mark, it may have once had a paper label that has since become detached. In this case, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you with the identification process. Find a selection of Stiffel lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify vintage Stiffel lamps, first check a piece for any markings. Nearly all Stiffel lamps have a marking at least on the switch, but some also feature large foil stamps on their bases or bulb sockets. By comparing the marks on your lamp to images and descriptions published on trusted online resources, you can often determine approximately when Stiffel produced your lamp. If your lamp is 20 to 99 years old, it is vintage. Older Stiffel lamps are antiques, and newer ones are contemporary. When in doubt, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Find an assortment of Stiffel lamps on 1stDibs.