Saturday Art: The Making Of A Tiffany Lamp

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Stained glass Tiffany lamp with colourful patterned shade on a decorative base
A Tiffany lamp—where light, colour, and craftsmanship come together in quiet harmony

Can you guess what is unusual about this lamp?

No, it is not its value—though an original can command very high prices. Nor does it derive its appeal from precious stones or jewels.

What you see here is a Tiffany lamp.

These lamps were designed and crafted in workshops led by Louis Comfort Tiffany, where a significant part of the design and assembly work was done by women artisans. There is an interesting reason often associated with this.

Most of us are what is known as trichromats—we perceive colour through three types of receptors, sensitive to red, green, and blue. However, a small percentage of women may possess a fourth type of receptor. These individuals, called tetrachromats, are believed to perceive a far richer range of colours—possibly many more than the average person.

While this does not apply to all women, it is a fascinating possibility that some may see colour with far greater nuance and subtlety.

(You may have experienced a hint of this yourself—especially when a particular shade takes far longer to decide than you think necessary, even though, to your eyes, they all look the same.)

Tiffany himself was deeply involved in the development of stained glass. In fact, he created several new types of glass to achieve the textures and colours he envisioned. His work initially extended to jewellery, church windows, and decorative panels.

At some point, he turned this artistry towards lamps—bringing together form, light, and colour in a way that was entirely new.

If you ever come across an original Tiffany lamp, you will notice the extraordinary attention to detail. The harmony of colours, the intricacy of design, and the way light interacts with the glass create something quite unique.

Even something as simple as a leaf is not just “green.” It is a careful selection from many shades—each chosen to bring the piece alive.

And perhaps that is where the secret lies.

If you wish, you may explore the Rodevra website

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