A lamp featuring a shade made up of several pieces of coloured glass soldered together is often referred to as a Tiffany lamp.
The base of this type of lamp is as diverse as the shade.
Predominantly, the bases are cast metal.
The very finest feature cast Bronze bases and others are made using all sorts of cheaper metal alloys finished in an antique style.
The glass shade of a Tiffany lamp is very distinctive and usually quite stunning.
The light behind shines through the lamp and dazzles the viewer with a beautiful array of colour and detail.
The very best lamps feature shades that are very detailed with many hundreds of individual glass pieces.
Cheaper lamps usually feature a lot less glass pieces placed in a simpler, less extravagant pattern.
The main attraction of Tiffany lamps is their individuality.
Each lamp shade is hand assembled therefore no two lamps are exactly alike.
Add to this the diversity in the glass itself and each lamp is truly unique.
The saying that "true quality never goes out of fashion" applies really well to Tiffany lamps.
Very few objects in peoples homes are truly handmade in the way that these lamps are these days.
You may buy a handmade table or sculpture if your feeling extravagant.
But do any of these pieces take hours and hours of a skilled artisans time to create? Is each truly unique? The answer is generally no.
The fashions of interior decorating come and go.
This seasons colours are last seasons flop.
When decorating your home, it is wise to consider timeless objects that endure.
This works in your favour in that the initial expense is spread over many years of use.
The latest must have fads are more costly when you consider how long you will decorate with them.
Tiffany lamps are timeless quality pieces.
How many types of table lamp have you heard of that appreciate in value over the long term eventually becoming antique objects.
The original Tiffany lamps of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are now highly sought after.
This demand has seen prices reach sky high with some well known examples featuring in art museums and important private collections.
I'm not trying to say that your next lamp will be as valuable as that but you are buying into a tradition of quality workmanship and design.
Buy quality home décor today and enjoy the ambience created and your investment for a long time to come.