Rare Pair of Stiffel Lamps, circa 1950
View Similar Items
Rare Pair of Stiffel Lamps, circa 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Stiffel (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Diameter: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1390211686943
Stiffel
When Ted Stiffel (1899–1971) founded Stiffel in 1932 in Chicago, he wanted to make functional, thoughtfully designed table 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 lighting on 1stDibs.
- Rare Stilnovo Clamp Desk Lamp, circa 1950By StilnovoLocated in London, GBRare Stilnovo articulated desk lamp with black shade. Brass has nice patina and the lamp has been rewired.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Rare Giuseppe Ostuni Floor Lamp, Italy, circa 1950By StiluxLocated in London, GBRare floor lamp. In excellent condition. Brass, painted metal, lucite shades, marble base. Original brass floor switch.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- Large Carlo Nason Lamp for Mazzega circa 1960By Carlo Nason, AVMazzegaLocated in London, GBSculptural glass light. Looks like melting ice! Italy circa 1970 by the glass lighting designer Carlo Nason. Four separate bulb holders inside ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Rare Max Ingrand set of three table lights model no 2483By Fontana Arte, Max IngrandLocated in London, GBRare set of three original illuminated vases. Model no 2483 c1966 by Max Ingrand Three varying sizes of lamps 74cm x 12cm 60cm x 11cm 46cm x 10cm Fontana Arte sales catalogue Mi...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Maison Charles Ear of Corn Lamp, c1970By Maison CharlesLocated in London, GBPair of silvered and gold gilt bronze lamps, each depicting an ear of corn. France c1970. Re wired and fully functional. Each lamp takes 2 x bulbs.Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsSilver Plate
$4,334 / set - Trio of Mategot Style Floor Lamps, circa 1950By Mathieu MatégotLocated in London, GBThree tripod floor lamps with perforated metal shades, France, circa 1950. Sculptural metal lights with great patina The tallest heigh...Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
$3,824 / set
- Pair of Nickel Stiffel LampsBy StiffelLocated in Palm Springs, CAA pair of Mid Century Stiffel lamps newly plated in nickel and rewired with French braid wire. in the style of Tommi Parzinger.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsNickel
$4,500 / set - Rare 1950s Stiffel Black Lacquer and Brass Suspension Table LampBy StiffelLocated in Chicago, ILRare 1950s Stiffel suspension table lamp. Four brass rods with ball finials support a black lacquered cup with internal light socket. Original off-white la...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
$2,062 Sale Price25% Off - Pair of Stiffel Lamps after ParzingerBy Tommi Parzinger, StiffelLocated in New York, NYStylish pair of brass lamps by Stiffel, designed in the style of Tommi Parzinger. Tall and elegant, clean and working condition. Nice heavy lamps, well crafted, made with top quality...Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$1,800 / set - Pair of Stiffel Brass Bouillotte LampsBy StiffelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis stylish and chic pair of Stiffel table lamps are very much in the manner of French bouillotte lamps of the late 18th century. Note: Requires three Edison based light bulbs.Category
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
$800 / set - Pair of Large Ceramic Lamps by StiffelBy StiffelLocated in New York, NYPair of Large ceramic lamps by Stiffel lamp company. The ceramic lamp bodies have a paint splattered crackled glaze finish. The lamps have brass h...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$4,200 / set - 1950s Patinated Brass Stiffel Table LampsBy StiffelLocated in New York, NY1950s patinated brass tall table lamps by Stiffel. Height to light socket 31.5.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass, Metal
$1,800 / set