L.C. Tiffany pioneered the use of stained glass in home furnishings beginning more than 100 years ago. An original Tiffany lamp is worth a great deal of money. For most people, such an item is well beyond our reach. However, reproductions as well as the Tiffany style table lamps are a much more affordable option.

There are many manufacturers who make lighting in the Tiffany style. While many are beautiful, the more one studies and compared the quality of these lamps, it becomes pretty easy to see that there’s a wide range of quality.

Some of these new manufacturers, such as Dale Tiffany, strive to maintain the level of quality that made the Tiffany name. Others just throw out products that don’t even come close to the feel of the originals. While some of these lamps might be pretty, neither the quality nor the design is likely to stand up to the test of time.

Depending on your budget and your design plans, you should be able to easily find a lamp to fit your needs. From the smallest table lamp to tall buffet lamps and everything in between, the selections available can be staggering. If you are considering a Tiffany style lamp or if you’ve already decided to purchase one, I recommend browsing through the selections of the higher-end reproductions first. At the least, you’ll get a great idea of what a quality lamp should look like.

If you then see a lower-priced lamp that you’re interested in, I’d still recommend taking a close look at the construction of the shade. Although some manufacturers, such as Dale Tiffany, use the traditional but labor-intensive methods of copper foil joining of the stained glass, many of the lower-end manufacturers will use a solder paste or even an epoxy paste to connect the pieces of glass (you see this very often in the stained-glass animal lamps sold in the big-box stores). These lamps might look good from a distance, but the quality just isn’t there.

A quality-made Tiffany-style lamp is something that can last a lifetime. In fact, they can become heirlooms to be passed down to children and grandchildren. Even though they might not have the value of a true Tiffany lamp, their styling is timeless and will be appreciated for many years to come.

These lamps can be used as you would use any lamp – both for lighting and as a decoration. However, due to the often more bold styling of the shades, these lamps can often be used to make a bold statement in your decorating. Alternatively, if you have a room or house full of antiques, often just the right reproduction will fit right in and look to be a much more expensive original piece.

Since these Tiffany style table lamps can often be purchased for prices very similar to more contemporary lamps, it is very worthwhile to compare the styles to see if there might be something that meets your specific needs. From modern to turn-of-the-century, there are choices to fit nearly any need and at any budget.