Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Pole Tension Lamps Room Divider, 1950s
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Pole Tension Lamps Room Divider, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Stiffel (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 107 in (271.78 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 5
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Chattanooga, TN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU225537824033
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.
- Broyhill Brasilia Room DividerBy Oscar Niemeyer, Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Chattanooga, TNThis 2-piece Brasilia Room Divider was delicately restored to preserve the original patina. We encourage you to look close at our photos to appre...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
MaterialsBrass
- Maitland Smith Hand Painted Neoclassical 4-Panel Folding Screen Room DividerBy Maitland SmithLocated in Chattanooga, TNOpulent, large scale, Maitland Smith hand-painted room divider folding screen. The Greco-Roman themed folding screen features neoclassical architecture and sculpture as decadent as t...Category
1990s Philippine Hollywood Regency Screens and Room Dividers
MaterialsCanvas, Hardwood
- Quartite Creative Corp Mid-Century Modern Genie LampsBy Quartite Creative Corp.Located in Chattanooga, TNQuartite Creative Corp. genie lamps have become a Mid-Century Modern icon. If you were around in the 1950s-1960s, chances are you knew someone with these la...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Middle Eastern Moorish Style Hammered Pierced Brass Floor LampLocated in Chattanooga, TNThis hand-hammered decorative pierced brass floor lamp exudes the Moorish / Moroccan style that is exploding on the design scene right now. A...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Egyptian Bohemian Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$4,547 Sale Price34% Off - Studio Made Golf Club Floor Lamp Pop Art SculptureBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Chattanooga, TNIncredibly unique studio made golf club lamp. This piece is one-of-a-kind, hand made from actual golf clubs. The brands and sizes can be seen inscribed ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsHardwood, Paint
- Brutalist Torch Cut Table Lamp with Nakashima Style Wood BaseBy George Nakashima, Paul EvansLocated in Chattanooga, TNAbsolutely stunning mid-century Brutalist table lamp. Body is comprised of a solid block of rough hewn wood. A second block artfully balances within the larger block. Look to the sho...Category
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Space Age All Brass Tension Pole Lamp! Mid Century Modern 1950s Stiffel EraBy StiffelLocated in Peoria, AZICONIC! SPACE AGE MID CENTURY MODERN GLEAMING BRASS TENSION POLE LAMP! Incredible Quality! In the manner of Stiffel designs. CIRCA 1959-60 ( FITS 8 - 8.5 FT. CEILING ) Welco...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- 1955! Mid Century Modern Tension Pole Lamp Brass Stiffel Era Starlight ShadesBy StiffelLocated in Peoria, AZHIGHLY COVETED! PURIST'S DREAM 1955 EARLY MID CENTURY MODERN TENSION POLE LAMP! THREE "STARLIGHT" SHADE BRASS & BLACK! UNRESTORED! FITS 8 FT. CEILING Mid Century Pole...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Mid Century Danish Modern Tension Pole Lamp Brushed Brass Maple Stiffel Era 50sBy StiffelLocated in Peoria, AZICONIC! 1958 MID CENTURY MODERN TENSION POLE LAMP! TWO "STARLIGHT" SHADES PLUS ONE SAUCER TOP 3-WAY LIGHT! BRUSHED BRASS MAPLE WOOD HANDLES! FITS 8 FT. CEILING Mid Century Pol...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Floorlamp Ted Stiffel 1950s Tension Lamp Metal BrassBy StiffelLocated in Wendeburg, DEWonderful plain midcentury lamp from manufacturer TED stiffel USA. This special lamp with three lamp shades is to clamp between two blankets. Many positions of the lamp in a room its...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Mid Century Tension Pole Lamp With Hand painted Italian Glass! 50s Stiffel EraBy StiffelLocated in Peoria, AZGORGEOUS! ITALIAN OPALESCENT GLASS HANDPAINTED W/ LEAVES MID CENTURY TENSION POLE LAMP! Incredible Quality! In the manner of Stiffel designs. CIRCA 1958-1961 ( FITS 8 FT. CEILING ) Italian Elegance! This is perhaps the quintessential mid century pole lamp...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Lightolier Lytespan Tension Pole Lamp! Mid Century Modern 1950s Gerald ThurstonBy Lightolier, Gerald ThurstonLocated in Peoria, AZMONUMENTAL! LIGHTOLIER MID CENTURY MODERN LYTESPAN 1959 TENSION POLE LAMP! ICONIC 3 GOLD SHADES WITH HANDLES! FITS 8 FT. CEILING This is both an iconic & gorgeous Lightolier at...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal