TIFFANY STUDIOS
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Glass and crystal Inventions
Chronology : 1900
See also : Glass and crystal Inventions
Chronology : 1900
Lamp
1
1900 Dandelion
2021 SOLD for $ 3.75M by Rago
In 1900 skilled craftsmen rush from everywhere in the world to display their achievements at the Exposition Universelle de Paris. In Europe and America, Art Nouveau is inseparable from the progress of electric lighting. Louis Tiffany and Emile Gallé filter the light through glass walls that create shimmering effects. The beauty of nature inspires the artists, realistically for Gallé and in a more stylized or Japanese style at Tiffany.
In New York the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company develops various techniques for the growing market of the lighting. Their very own recently patented favrile glass displaying bright colors is awarded a Grand Prix at that Exposition. The color glass pieces are pressed in the bulk between layers of molten glass.
Tiffany operates also a production line for bronze casting, for enameling and will soon have one for ceramics.
The 75 cm high Dandelion lamp is one of the masterpieces conceived especially by Tiffany for the Paris Exposition. In 1901 it will also be displayed at the Pan American in Buffalo. At the same time in France, Gallé was inspired by all current forms of nature and highlighting a mere dandelion was in the fashion of the time.
The lamp is a glass globe 29 cm in diameter atop a tall and narrow copper base. It is not enameled and its technical feat is not in the blown white glass engraved with a flow of seeds but in the copper, intricately hammered with all the growing elements of a dandelion and displaying a variety of patinations by oxidizing.
The production process was time consuming. After making a replica of the dandelion, no other unit will be made. From 1901 the assembly of a shade with hundreds of small colored favrile plaques is the solution for developing the highly successful production line of the Tiffany lamps, farther from botanical realism but more appealing to the customers.
The original Dandelion lamp has just resurfaced. It was sold for $ 3.75M by Rago on May 13, 2021, lot 273 here linked on the LiveAuctioneers bidding platform.
In New York the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company develops various techniques for the growing market of the lighting. Their very own recently patented favrile glass displaying bright colors is awarded a Grand Prix at that Exposition. The color glass pieces are pressed in the bulk between layers of molten glass.
Tiffany operates also a production line for bronze casting, for enameling and will soon have one for ceramics.
The 75 cm high Dandelion lamp is one of the masterpieces conceived especially by Tiffany for the Paris Exposition. In 1901 it will also be displayed at the Pan American in Buffalo. At the same time in France, Gallé was inspired by all current forms of nature and highlighting a mere dandelion was in the fashion of the time.
The lamp is a glass globe 29 cm in diameter atop a tall and narrow copper base. It is not enameled and its technical feat is not in the blown white glass engraved with a flow of seeds but in the copper, intricately hammered with all the growing elements of a dandelion and displaying a variety of patinations by oxidizing.
The production process was time consuming. After making a replica of the dandelion, no other unit will be made. From 1901 the assembly of a shade with hundreds of small colored favrile plaques is the solution for developing the highly successful production line of the Tiffany lamps, farther from botanical realism but more appealing to the customers.
The original Dandelion lamp has just resurfaced. It was sold for $ 3.75M by Rago on May 13, 2021, lot 273 here linked on the LiveAuctioneers bidding platform.
Tiffany Studios Dandelion lamp, 1900, hand-blown Favrile glass & hammered & patinated copper, 29½" H x 11½" D, sold for $3,745,000 (est $50,000/75,000), setting a new auction record for a Tiffany Lamp https://t.co/GbVsxkrHkD #antiques #antique #vintage #Tiffany #lamp #lamps pic.twitter.com/BvfxkqWbzJ
— Maine Antique Digest (@AntiqueDigest) July 30, 2021
2
1903 Pond Lily
2018 SOLD for $ 3.4M by Christie's
Louis Comfort Tiffany patented in 1894 a decorative glass iridescent in its bulk. The transition from kerosene to electricity encourages him to create new lamps. On a base most often in bronze, the lampshade is artistically assembled with hundreds of these small plates.
In the last years of the nineteenth century he installs a workshop for girls to cut glass plates, an activity that requires too much dexterity to be entrusted to workmen.
Tiffany takes a social risk and does not brag about it. The competition is tough and hostile between the men's workshop and the Tiffany Girls. The girls do not have the right to join unions and must leave the company when they get married.
The name of their workshop manager, Clara Driscoll, surfaced in 2006 after the discovery and study of her family correspondence. Tiffany had rehired this young widow after the temporary disappearance of a second suitor. Tiffany was lucky : Clara had great artistic skills.
Clara adapted the workshop to create naturalistic lampshades composed of a multitude of colored plates. Her name appears only once in period, in an article of the New York Daily News in 1904 : she is credited with the creation of the Dragonfly lamp which earned a bronze medal to the Tiffany Glass Company at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1900.
Trained as an artist, Tiffany is a great lover of gardens. The first release in his new line of products is the wisteria lamp, with an irregularly fringed lower edge that underlines the shape of the plants.
The Pond Lily lamp designed in 1902 is in line with another preference of Tiffany who maintained water gardens in his country estates. Its bell shaped shade is a technical feat because the upper part showing radiating stems on a blue background is an assembly made entirely of glass pieces not reinforced with bronze. Although it appears in the price list until 1906, it seems that its production has been stopped early.
14 lamps of this model have survived. One of them, with a 46 cm diameter lampshade and a 67 cm overall height, is particularly appealing in its colorful composition. It was sold for $ 3.4M from a lower estimate of $ 1.8M by Christie's on December 13, 2018, lot 9. Please watch the very short video shared by the auction house.
This unit is dated 1903 with a near certainty by the rare conjunction of the new Tiffany Studios New York trademark with their old system of nomenclature of the elements.
Some early lamps have a bulging glass body decorated in a mosaic pattern and framed by metal studs. The 61 cm high Cobweb and Apple Blossom table lamp belongs to that category. The spider webs set beautiful radiating areas around which the colors of the flowers are positioned elegantly.
These early models are extremely rare, perhaps made obsolete after the development by the Tiffany Girls at the end of 1901 of the Wisteria lamp in which the extraordinary complexity of glass assembly is only applied to the lampshade.
On December 13, 2017, Sotheby's sold for $ 1.15M a Cobweb and Apple Blossom table lamp , lot 222. The terminus ante quem attested by the monogram Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company stamped on its base is 1902.
The Cobweb lamp is made on a similar design. A 77 cm high electrified specimen was one of the two flagships from the Louis C. Tiffany Garden Museum collection in Matsue, Japan, discussed in this column before it was dispersed at auction by Michaan's in November 2012. The lampshade is entirely composed with webs and the body is decorated with wildflowers.
In the last years of the nineteenth century he installs a workshop for girls to cut glass plates, an activity that requires too much dexterity to be entrusted to workmen.
Tiffany takes a social risk and does not brag about it. The competition is tough and hostile between the men's workshop and the Tiffany Girls. The girls do not have the right to join unions and must leave the company when they get married.
The name of their workshop manager, Clara Driscoll, surfaced in 2006 after the discovery and study of her family correspondence. Tiffany had rehired this young widow after the temporary disappearance of a second suitor. Tiffany was lucky : Clara had great artistic skills.
Clara adapted the workshop to create naturalistic lampshades composed of a multitude of colored plates. Her name appears only once in period, in an article of the New York Daily News in 1904 : she is credited with the creation of the Dragonfly lamp which earned a bronze medal to the Tiffany Glass Company at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1900.
Trained as an artist, Tiffany is a great lover of gardens. The first release in his new line of products is the wisteria lamp, with an irregularly fringed lower edge that underlines the shape of the plants.
The Pond Lily lamp designed in 1902 is in line with another preference of Tiffany who maintained water gardens in his country estates. Its bell shaped shade is a technical feat because the upper part showing radiating stems on a blue background is an assembly made entirely of glass pieces not reinforced with bronze. Although it appears in the price list until 1906, it seems that its production has been stopped early.
14 lamps of this model have survived. One of them, with a 46 cm diameter lampshade and a 67 cm overall height, is particularly appealing in its colorful composition. It was sold for $ 3.4M from a lower estimate of $ 1.8M by Christie's on December 13, 2018, lot 9. Please watch the very short video shared by the auction house.
This unit is dated 1903 with a near certainty by the rare conjunction of the new Tiffany Studios New York trademark with their old system of nomenclature of the elements.
Some early lamps have a bulging glass body decorated in a mosaic pattern and framed by metal studs. The 61 cm high Cobweb and Apple Blossom table lamp belongs to that category. The spider webs set beautiful radiating areas around which the colors of the flowers are positioned elegantly.
These early models are extremely rare, perhaps made obsolete after the development by the Tiffany Girls at the end of 1901 of the Wisteria lamp in which the extraordinary complexity of glass assembly is only applied to the lampshade.
On December 13, 2017, Sotheby's sold for $ 1.15M a Cobweb and Apple Blossom table lamp , lot 222. The terminus ante quem attested by the monogram Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company stamped on its base is 1902.
The Cobweb lamp is made on a similar design. A 77 cm high electrified specimen was one of the two flagships from the Louis C. Tiffany Garden Museum collection in Matsue, Japan, discussed in this column before it was dispersed at auction by Michaan's in November 2012. The lampshade is entirely composed with webs and the body is decorated with wildflowers.
Don't miss our upcoming Design and Masterpieces in Glass: The Nakamoto Collection sales this December 13 in #NewYork featuring a $2 million 'Pond Lily' Tiffany lamp https://t.co/JWSDV2Q9z4 pic.twitter.com/TSwx1u0ml6
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) December 3, 2018
3
1903 Trumpet Creeper
2018 SOLD for $ 2.3M by Sotheby's
In 1901 Louis Comfort Tiffany entrusts the realization of lampshades in favrile glass to his Women's Glass Cutting Department. The team of the Tiffany Girls is responsible for preparing and cutting the glass plates. It is operated by Clara Driscoll, whose designing skill was decisive for the development of the most complex and most beautiful shades offered by Tiffany Studios.
The shade will then be mounted on a bronze base. The whole will display exquisite floral patterns.
The wisteria lamp demonstrates the feasibility of the project. On a flared bell shaped wooden mould, the Tiffany Girls assemble about 2,000 tiles in all colors, with a fringed lower edge that underlines the descending bunches of flowers. Bronze vine shoots provide the rigidity to this fragile form.
The Wisteria 18" is a table lamp 70 cm high composed of a shade 49 cm in diameter made of nearly 2,000 individually cut small tiles of brightly colored glass and of a bronze foot. Designed in 1901 by Clara Driscoll, this model is inspired by botany. The foot looks like a gnarled trunk extended with protruding roots, and the bell shaped shade falls in hemmed clusters like a wisteria.
This model was available from 1901 to 1906. The Tiffany number does not enable to identify a more specific date. Auction catalogs generally date these productions ca 1905. The wisteria was offered for the very expensive price of $ 400 in the catalogue of Tiffany Studios in 1906. Tiffany Studios produced larger shades for the Cherry Tree and Dragonfly lamps.
For the Wisteria lamp and similar models, the units are distinguished from each other by the small details of their individually selected color schemes.
Made around 1905, a wisteria lamp with gradual luminous colors including deep cobalt blue was sold by Sotheby's for $ 1.57M on December 18, 2013, lot 330, for $ 950K on December 12, 2018, lot 326, and for $ 1.4M on December 6, 2023, lot 216.
Collecting can provide an intense joy. Sandra van den Broek, who specialized in Tiffany lamps, bought several years apart in different circumstances two Wisteria 18" lamps that had an adjacent serial number, and the characteristics of the colored elements showed that they had been cut on the same glass plates.
On December 17, 2014, Sotheby's sold seven lamps which had belonged to van den Broek. Both Wisterias are sold separately, which is not a nonsense since they were not intended to be used as pairs. Lot 215 was sold for $ 1.15M and lot 216 for $ 1.2M. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's for introducing the sale.
Clara Driscoll and her team designed a smaller version of the wisteria table lamp, 43 cm high and 26 cm in diameter of shade, which was referred as Pony Wisteria by Tiffany Studios.
The base in patinated bronze is more sculptural, reflecting naturalistically the vine of the plant. The blossoms have the same size as in the larger version. The dripping glass panicles are similar.
An exquisite example is dated ca 1905 in the catalogue as usual for the wisteria lamps. It includes the hues of a sunset interspersing in vibrant red, orange and yellow the range of purple and lavender of the blooms beside blue sky and green leaves. It was sold by Sotheby's for $ 1.63M on December 7, 2023, lot 209.
The mould of the wisteria lamp is then used with other color combinations composed of bigger tiles. The diversified offering now includes Trumpet Creeper, Grape and Apple Blossom shades. Three of these four variants illustrate vines, obviously matching a botanical preference of the boss.
For each model, the units are distinguished from each other by the small details of their color schemes. The passion of the amateurs generates now the diversity of the auction prices.
A rare Trumpet Creeper lamp made around 1903, sold for $ 2.3M from a lower estimate of $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 12, 2018, lot 327.
The shade will then be mounted on a bronze base. The whole will display exquisite floral patterns.
The wisteria lamp demonstrates the feasibility of the project. On a flared bell shaped wooden mould, the Tiffany Girls assemble about 2,000 tiles in all colors, with a fringed lower edge that underlines the descending bunches of flowers. Bronze vine shoots provide the rigidity to this fragile form.
The Wisteria 18" is a table lamp 70 cm high composed of a shade 49 cm in diameter made of nearly 2,000 individually cut small tiles of brightly colored glass and of a bronze foot. Designed in 1901 by Clara Driscoll, this model is inspired by botany. The foot looks like a gnarled trunk extended with protruding roots, and the bell shaped shade falls in hemmed clusters like a wisteria.
This model was available from 1901 to 1906. The Tiffany number does not enable to identify a more specific date. Auction catalogs generally date these productions ca 1905. The wisteria was offered for the very expensive price of $ 400 in the catalogue of Tiffany Studios in 1906. Tiffany Studios produced larger shades for the Cherry Tree and Dragonfly lamps.
For the Wisteria lamp and similar models, the units are distinguished from each other by the small details of their individually selected color schemes.
Made around 1905, a wisteria lamp with gradual luminous colors including deep cobalt blue was sold by Sotheby's for $ 1.57M on December 18, 2013, lot 330, for $ 950K on December 12, 2018, lot 326, and for $ 1.4M on December 6, 2023, lot 216.
Collecting can provide an intense joy. Sandra van den Broek, who specialized in Tiffany lamps, bought several years apart in different circumstances two Wisteria 18" lamps that had an adjacent serial number, and the characteristics of the colored elements showed that they had been cut on the same glass plates.
On December 17, 2014, Sotheby's sold seven lamps which had belonged to van den Broek. Both Wisterias are sold separately, which is not a nonsense since they were not intended to be used as pairs. Lot 215 was sold for $ 1.15M and lot 216 for $ 1.2M. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's for introducing the sale.
Clara Driscoll and her team designed a smaller version of the wisteria table lamp, 43 cm high and 26 cm in diameter of shade, which was referred as Pony Wisteria by Tiffany Studios.
The base in patinated bronze is more sculptural, reflecting naturalistically the vine of the plant. The blossoms have the same size as in the larger version. The dripping glass panicles are similar.
An exquisite example is dated ca 1905 in the catalogue as usual for the wisteria lamps. It includes the hues of a sunset interspersing in vibrant red, orange and yellow the range of purple and lavender of the blooms beside blue sky and green leaves. It was sold by Sotheby's for $ 1.63M on December 7, 2023, lot 209.
The mould of the wisteria lamp is then used with other color combinations composed of bigger tiles. The diversified offering now includes Trumpet Creeper, Grape and Apple Blossom shades. Three of these four variants illustrate vines, obviously matching a botanical preference of the boss.
For each model, the units are distinguished from each other by the small details of their color schemes. The passion of the amateurs generates now the diversity of the auction prices.
A rare Trumpet Creeper lamp made around 1903, sold for $ 2.3M from a lower estimate of $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 12, 2018, lot 327.
#AuctionUpdate: Undoubtedly the finest example of the model that is known to exist, this "Trumpet Creeper” Table Lamp by Tiffany Studios soars to $2.3 million - over 2x its estimate pic.twitter.com/8455KVxKEj
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) December 12, 2018
4
> 1903 Pink Lotus
1997 SOLD for $ 2.8M by Christie's
A highly rare Pink Lotus lamp made by Tiffany Studios in the period 1900-1910 was sold for $ 2.8M by Christie's on December 12, 1997, lot 200. It is illustrated in the Tiffany lamp collecting guide prepared by Christie's.
It is 88 cm high with a globe shaped shade 71 cm in diameter decorated by a frieze of waterlily blossoms in a high variety of favrile colors. The leaves are in a green tesserae mosaic. The bronze tendrils support and stiffen the mounting.
The bronze base is stamped Tiffany Studios New York 352, which is consistent with the three digit configuration reference used by that brand from 1903.
It is 88 cm high with a globe shaped shade 71 cm in diameter decorated by a frieze of waterlily blossoms in a high variety of favrile colors. The leaves are in a green tesserae mosaic. The bronze tendrils support and stiffen the mounting.
The bronze base is stamped Tiffany Studios New York 352, which is consistent with the three digit configuration reference used by that brand from 1903.
5
1910 Wisteria Laburnum
2024 SOLD for $ 2.9M by Sotheby's
Around 1910 on a design attributed to Clara Driscoll, the reference 1539 of the leaded glass shade applies to the laburnum flowers. It features the signature irregular lower border of the wisteria lamp.
A floor lamp with that shade was sold for $ 720K by Sotheby's on December 16, 2015, lot 243. A table lamp with the 1539-1 was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on December 16, 2010, lot 227.
A 1539 lamp mingling in an undulation the shimmering colors of wisteria and laburnum blossoms and foliage was executed in the workshop of the Tiffany Girls. No other example is known, probably because that hybrid pattern is not realistic in terms of botany. It was sold for $ 2.9M from a lower estimate of $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 13, 2024, lot 309.
A floor lamp with that shade was sold for $ 720K by Sotheby's on December 16, 2015, lot 243. A table lamp with the 1539-1 was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on December 16, 2010, lot 227.
A 1539 lamp mingling in an undulation the shimmering colors of wisteria and laburnum blossoms and foliage was executed in the workshop of the Tiffany Girls. No other example is known, probably because that hybrid pattern is not realistic in terms of botany. It was sold for $ 2.9M from a lower estimate of $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 13, 2024, lot 309.
6
1910 Magnolia Floor Lamp
2025 SOLD for $ 4.4M by Sotheby's
A 192 cm high Magnolia floor lamp made ca 1910 by Tiffany Studios with a 72 cm diameter of shade was sold for $ 4.4M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Sotheby's on December 11, 2025, lot 209.
Significance of the Tiffany Studios Magnolia Floor Lamp in the Brand's Business
Tiffany Studios, founded by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1902 as the ecclesiastical and artistic arm of his family's jewelry empire, played a pivotal role in elevating American decorative arts during the Art Nouveau era. The company's leaded-glass lamps, which transitioned from gas to electric illumination around 1900, became a cornerstone of its commercial success, accounting for a substantial portion of revenue—estimated at over 80% of Tiffany's output by the 1910s. These lamps symbolized innovation in blending artistry with functionality, appealing to an affluent clientele seeking luxurious, nature-inspired home furnishings amid the rise of modern electricity.
The Magnolia floor lamp model (typically shade model no. 1599) stands out as one of Tiffany's most enduring and commercially viable designs, produced from around 1905 until the studio's closure in 1932 (with some variations continuing into 1924). Unlike shorter-lived motifs, its longevity stemmed from both aesthetic splendor and practical utility: the large, open dome (often 28 inches in diameter) provided ample downward light for living spaces, making it ideal for grand interiors. The design drew from earlier floral windows by chief designer Agnes Northrop, who specialized in magnolia motifs, but was adapted for lamps by the team, possibly under Clara Driscoll's influence—recent scholarship credits her with many of Tiffany's most creative shades. Featuring robust, layered magnolia blossoms in vibrant whites, pinks, and greens against a mottled background (often using innovative drapery glass for texture), the model exemplified Tiffany's mastery of Favrile glass techniques, where hand-cut pieces were leaded into intricate patterns evoking natural abundance.
In business terms, the Magnolia contributed significantly to Tiffany's reputation as a premium brand, commanding high retail prices (originals sold for $300–$500, equivalent to $10,000+ today) and fostering collector demand that sustained the firm's prestige post-1929 crash. It helped diversify beyond ecclesiastical windows into domestic markets, with production scalability allowing hundreds of units—far more than rarer models like the Wisteria. Auction records underscore its market strength: a 2005 Christie's example fetched $2,032,000 (third-highest for any Tiffany lamp), reflecting its status as a "masterwork" that drives consignments to major houses like Sotheby's. Overall, the model bolstered Tiffany's narrative of American ingenuity, blending European influences (e.g., hybridized Asian magnolias) with native motifs, and remains a benchmark for authenticity in a market rife with reproductions.
Comparison with the Cottone Auctions Example
The Sotheby's lot 209, scheduled for December 11, 2025, appears to be a high-caliber example from a forthcoming "Dreaming in Glass" sale (echoing Sotheby's 2020 Tiffany series), likely featuring a circa-1910 patinated-bronze base (e.g., model 376 or 379, 6–8 inches wide) supporting a 28-inch leaded-glass shade with exceptional glass selection—vibrant, striated magnolia flowers and drapery effects for depth. Comparable recent Magnolias have realized $1–2 million, positioning this as a potential market bellwether amid rising demand for verified "triple-signed" pieces (stamped on shade, base, and rim).
In contrast, the Cottone Auctions Magnolia floor lamp, sold on March 27, 2010, in Geneseo, NY, from the Armstrong collection, achieved $661,250 (including premium)—a strong result for the regional sale, which totaled $1.6 million overall, but below top-tier benchmarks. It likely mirrored the model's standard specs: a 28-inch shade (model 1599) with classic floral layering on a bronze base, emphasizing fresh-to-market appeal from an upstate estate. Cottone, known for Tiffany consignments, highlighted its rarity alongside other Armstrong pieces like a Dragonfly table lamp ($172,500).
Both exemplify the model's dual role as artistic triumph and sound investment. The 2010 sale underscores how regional venues can yield strong returns for well-preserved examples, but global auctions like Sotheby's amplify value through specialist vetting and international bidding.
Significance of the Tiffany Studios Magnolia Floor Lamp in the Brand's Business
Tiffany Studios, founded by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1902 as the ecclesiastical and artistic arm of his family's jewelry empire, played a pivotal role in elevating American decorative arts during the Art Nouveau era. The company's leaded-glass lamps, which transitioned from gas to electric illumination around 1900, became a cornerstone of its commercial success, accounting for a substantial portion of revenue—estimated at over 80% of Tiffany's output by the 1910s. These lamps symbolized innovation in blending artistry with functionality, appealing to an affluent clientele seeking luxurious, nature-inspired home furnishings amid the rise of modern electricity.
The Magnolia floor lamp model (typically shade model no. 1599) stands out as one of Tiffany's most enduring and commercially viable designs, produced from around 1905 until the studio's closure in 1932 (with some variations continuing into 1924). Unlike shorter-lived motifs, its longevity stemmed from both aesthetic splendor and practical utility: the large, open dome (often 28 inches in diameter) provided ample downward light for living spaces, making it ideal for grand interiors. The design drew from earlier floral windows by chief designer Agnes Northrop, who specialized in magnolia motifs, but was adapted for lamps by the team, possibly under Clara Driscoll's influence—recent scholarship credits her with many of Tiffany's most creative shades. Featuring robust, layered magnolia blossoms in vibrant whites, pinks, and greens against a mottled background (often using innovative drapery glass for texture), the model exemplified Tiffany's mastery of Favrile glass techniques, where hand-cut pieces were leaded into intricate patterns evoking natural abundance.
In business terms, the Magnolia contributed significantly to Tiffany's reputation as a premium brand, commanding high retail prices (originals sold for $300–$500, equivalent to $10,000+ today) and fostering collector demand that sustained the firm's prestige post-1929 crash. It helped diversify beyond ecclesiastical windows into domestic markets, with production scalability allowing hundreds of units—far more than rarer models like the Wisteria. Auction records underscore its market strength: a 2005 Christie's example fetched $2,032,000 (third-highest for any Tiffany lamp), reflecting its status as a "masterwork" that drives consignments to major houses like Sotheby's. Overall, the model bolstered Tiffany's narrative of American ingenuity, blending European influences (e.g., hybridized Asian magnolias) with native motifs, and remains a benchmark for authenticity in a market rife with reproductions.
Comparison with the Cottone Auctions Example
The Sotheby's lot 209, scheduled for December 11, 2025, appears to be a high-caliber example from a forthcoming "Dreaming in Glass" sale (echoing Sotheby's 2020 Tiffany series), likely featuring a circa-1910 patinated-bronze base (e.g., model 376 or 379, 6–8 inches wide) supporting a 28-inch leaded-glass shade with exceptional glass selection—vibrant, striated magnolia flowers and drapery effects for depth. Comparable recent Magnolias have realized $1–2 million, positioning this as a potential market bellwether amid rising demand for verified "triple-signed" pieces (stamped on shade, base, and rim).
In contrast, the Cottone Auctions Magnolia floor lamp, sold on March 27, 2010, in Geneseo, NY, from the Armstrong collection, achieved $661,250 (including premium)—a strong result for the regional sale, which totaled $1.6 million overall, but below top-tier benchmarks. It likely mirrored the model's standard specs: a 28-inch shade (model 1599) with classic floral layering on a bronze base, emphasizing fresh-to-market appeal from an upstate estate. Cottone, known for Tiffany consignments, highlighted its rarity alongside other Armstrong pieces like a Dragonfly table lamp ($172,500).
Both exemplify the model's dual role as artistic triumph and sound investment. The 2010 sale underscores how regional venues can yield strong returns for well-preserved examples, but global auctions like Sotheby's amplify value through specialist vetting and international bidding.
7
1910 Magnolia Floor Lamp
2005 SOLD for $ 2.03M by Christie's
A 200 cm high Magnolia floor lamp made ca 1910 in leaded glas and bronze by Tiffany Studios with a 71 cm diameter of shade was sold for $ 2.03M from a lower estimate of $ 900K by Christie's on December 7, 2005, lot 319. The shade reference is 1599.
Comparison of Tiffany Studios Magnolia Floor Lamps: Sotheby's Lot 209 (December 11, 2025) vs. Christie's Lot 319 (December 7, 2005)
The Tiffany Studios Magnolia floor lamp remains one of the marquee designs in the firm's legacy, renowned for its expansive leaded-glass shade (model 1599) depicting layered magnolia blossoms in opulent whites, pinks, and greens, often enhanced by drapery glass for textured depth. Both examples under discussion are exceptional specimens from circa 1910, showcasing the model's hallmark 28-inch diameter open dome for superior illumination and a patinated-bronze base (likely model 379 or similar) for elegant proportion. Produced in relatively high volumes compared to rarer motifs, the Magnolia's enduring appeal lies in its adaptation of Agnes Northrop's floral window designs for domestic lighting, blending artistry with practicality—a key driver of Tiffany's commercial dominance in the early 20th century.The Sotheby's lot 209, offered in the "Dreaming in Glass: Masterworks by Tiffany Studios" sale (echoing the house's acclaimed 2020 series), hails from the prestigious Schur Family Collection. Its superior glass selection—vibrant, striated petals with mottled backgrounds—positions it as one of the finest Magnolias to appear at auction in decades, with triple signatures (shade, base, and rim) affirming authenticity. While the December 11, 2025, results are pending (as of December 9), comparables suggest a potential realization exceeding $2 million, reflecting sustained post-pandemic market vigor for verified masterpieces.
In contrast, Christie's lot 319 from the December 7, 2005, "American Decorative Arts" sale was a benchmark at the time, described as "magnificent" for its luminous glass and structural integrity. Estimated at $900,000–$1,200,000, it hammered for $1,800,000 and realized $2,032,000 including premium—a then-record for the model that underscored Tiffany's ascent in the investment-grade art market. Sourced from a private collection, it featured classic Magnolia attributes without noted restorations, contributing to its outsized performance amid a booming decorative arts sector.
Shade/Base Details
Sotheby's : 28" diam. shade (model 1599) w/ exceptional drapery glass; bronze base (likely 379); overall height ~78–80".
Christie's :28" diam. shade (model 1599) w/ vibrant layered florals; bronze base (379); height ~78".
Glass/Condition
Sotheby's : Outstanding vibrancy and patina; no restorations; distinguished Schur provenance enhances allure.
Christie's : Magnificent translucency and depth; excellent original condition, fueling competitive bidding.
Market Influence
Sotheby's : Potential 2025 bellwether amid 15–20% Tiffany index growth since 2020; emphasizes connoisseur appeal in hybrid live/online format.
Christie's : Cemented Magnolia's blue-chip status in nascent collector boom; influenced subsequent sales, with prices doubling for top examples by 2018.
These lamps exemplify the Magnolia's evolution from functional fixture to cultural icon, with the 2005 Christie's example catalyzing broader recognition and the 2025 Sotheby's offering poised to reaffirm its investment cachet. Both underscore Tiffany's genius in translating natural splendor into illuminated luxury, though the Sotheby's piece benefits from modern authentication standards and a hotter market for provenance-driven works.
Comparison of Tiffany Studios Magnolia Floor Lamps: Sotheby's Lot 209 (December 11, 2025) vs. Christie's Lot 319 (December 7, 2005)
The Tiffany Studios Magnolia floor lamp remains one of the marquee designs in the firm's legacy, renowned for its expansive leaded-glass shade (model 1599) depicting layered magnolia blossoms in opulent whites, pinks, and greens, often enhanced by drapery glass for textured depth. Both examples under discussion are exceptional specimens from circa 1910, showcasing the model's hallmark 28-inch diameter open dome for superior illumination and a patinated-bronze base (likely model 379 or similar) for elegant proportion. Produced in relatively high volumes compared to rarer motifs, the Magnolia's enduring appeal lies in its adaptation of Agnes Northrop's floral window designs for domestic lighting, blending artistry with practicality—a key driver of Tiffany's commercial dominance in the early 20th century.The Sotheby's lot 209, offered in the "Dreaming in Glass: Masterworks by Tiffany Studios" sale (echoing the house's acclaimed 2020 series), hails from the prestigious Schur Family Collection. Its superior glass selection—vibrant, striated petals with mottled backgrounds—positions it as one of the finest Magnolias to appear at auction in decades, with triple signatures (shade, base, and rim) affirming authenticity. While the December 11, 2025, results are pending (as of December 9), comparables suggest a potential realization exceeding $2 million, reflecting sustained post-pandemic market vigor for verified masterpieces.
In contrast, Christie's lot 319 from the December 7, 2005, "American Decorative Arts" sale was a benchmark at the time, described as "magnificent" for its luminous glass and structural integrity. Estimated at $900,000–$1,200,000, it hammered for $1,800,000 and realized $2,032,000 including premium—a then-record for the model that underscored Tiffany's ascent in the investment-grade art market. Sourced from a private collection, it featured classic Magnolia attributes without noted restorations, contributing to its outsized performance amid a booming decorative arts sector.
Shade/Base Details
Sotheby's : 28" diam. shade (model 1599) w/ exceptional drapery glass; bronze base (likely 379); overall height ~78–80".
Christie's :28" diam. shade (model 1599) w/ vibrant layered florals; bronze base (379); height ~78".
Glass/Condition
Sotheby's : Outstanding vibrancy and patina; no restorations; distinguished Schur provenance enhances allure.
Christie's : Magnificent translucency and depth; excellent original condition, fueling competitive bidding.
Market Influence
Sotheby's : Potential 2025 bellwether amid 15–20% Tiffany index growth since 2020; emphasizes connoisseur appeal in hybrid live/online format.
Christie's : Cemented Magnolia's blue-chip status in nascent collector boom; influenced subsequent sales, with prices doubling for top examples by 2018.
These lamps exemplify the Magnolia's evolution from functional fixture to cultural icon, with the 2005 Christie's example catalyzing broader recognition and the 2025 Sotheby's offering poised to reaffirm its investment cachet. Both underscore Tiffany's genius in translating natural splendor into illuminated luxury, though the Sotheby's piece benefits from modern authentication standards and a hotter market for provenance-driven works.
Memorial Window
1
1903 Stillman
2025 SOLD for $ 2.4M by Sotheby's
Tiffany Studios designed on commission and produced windows in favrile glass for the use in ecclesiastical buildings. The favrile occupied the whole surface of the window.
For lavish residences, the brand set the favrile colors on largely transparent glass windows, connecting the indoor to the outside through that partly colored glass surface.
The library of the Brooklyn Home for Aged Men and Couples did not open to a flower garden. Circa 1902 the four daughters of a late residing woman commissioned to Tiffany a set of four windows for that use. It was executed in 1903. The set was dismounted and separated in 1969 when the building was acquired by a new owner.
One of these Stillman memorial windows, 300 x 152 cm, arched and in its frame, was sold for $ 2.4M from a lower estimate of $ 1.5M by Sotheby's on June 12, 2025, lot 309.
It displays vines and leaves over a ground of tulips. The design is attributed to Agnes Northrop, an early employee who worked at Tiffany for five decades overall and had been awarded a silver medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. The exquisite color combination expresses LC Tiffany's beloved 'Dame Nature'.
A fire screen 80 cm high, 146 cm wide and 23 cm deep made ca 1905 by Tiffany Studios in wrought iron and favrile glass was sold for $ 1.67M by Christie's on December 16, 2007, lot 25. Its glass pattern is a chain mail with gilt details. It had been originally placed in the home of an architect who was a disciple of Louis Sullivan.
For lavish residences, the brand set the favrile colors on largely transparent glass windows, connecting the indoor to the outside through that partly colored glass surface.
The library of the Brooklyn Home for Aged Men and Couples did not open to a flower garden. Circa 1902 the four daughters of a late residing woman commissioned to Tiffany a set of four windows for that use. It was executed in 1903. The set was dismounted and separated in 1969 when the building was acquired by a new owner.
One of these Stillman memorial windows, 300 x 152 cm, arched and in its frame, was sold for $ 2.4M from a lower estimate of $ 1.5M by Sotheby's on June 12, 2025, lot 309.
It displays vines and leaves over a ground of tulips. The design is attributed to Agnes Northrop, an early employee who worked at Tiffany for five decades overall and had been awarded a silver medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. The exquisite color combination expresses LC Tiffany's beloved 'Dame Nature'.
A fire screen 80 cm high, 146 cm wide and 23 cm deep made ca 1905 by Tiffany Studios in wrought iron and favrile glass was sold for $ 1.67M by Christie's on December 16, 2007, lot 25. Its glass pattern is a chain mail with gilt details. It had been originally placed in the home of an architect who was a disciple of Louis Sullivan.
2
1910 Goddard
2025 SOLD for $ 4.3M by Christie's
Mr. Goddard, died in 1907, was a scion of the Goddard and Brown families of colonial furniture fame in Providence RI. His widow commissioned in 1909 to Tiffany a memorial window which was completed in 1910 for installation in St. Luke's Episcopal church in Each Greenwich RI. It is believed that Louis Comfort Tiffany had personally overseen the production.
The window is made of three elements, each one 190 cm high and 57 cm wide, 205 x 72 cm including their individual frame. Imaginary river sceneries developed by Tiffany's chief landscape designer Agnes Northrop display the brilliant colors of tulips and violets in spring, irises in summer, and an autumn sunset. The inscription to Goddard spans the bottoms of the three panels with a pantheist quotation from the Psalms.
The Goddard memorial window was sold for $ 4.3M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on June 12, 2025, lot 185, to benefit the St. Luke's church.
The window is made of three elements, each one 190 cm high and 57 cm wide, 205 x 72 cm including their individual frame. Imaginary river sceneries developed by Tiffany's chief landscape designer Agnes Northrop display the brilliant colors of tulips and violets in spring, irises in summer, and an autumn sunset. The inscription to Goddard spans the bottoms of the three panels with a pantheist quotation from the Psalms.
The Goddard memorial window was sold for $ 4.3M from a lower estimate of $ 2M by Christie's on June 12, 2025, lot 185, to benefit the St. Luke's church.
3
1913 Danner
2024 SOLD for $ 12.5M by Sotheby's
A monumental arched window 490 x 325 cm including the frame was executed in 1913 by Tiffany Studios. It was made of leaded Favrile glass selectively plated in front and reverse. This memorial window had been commissioned by the First Baptist Church in Canton OH to honor the 50 years of service of a founding couple in their lifetime.
The stunning landscape at sunset is viewed from behind a balcony with flourishing apple trees and a field of red poppies. Within the Tiffany Studios organization, it is a technical feat by the Tiffany Girls team from a cartoon by Agnes Northrop.
Kept at the Church until 1990, the Danner Memorial Window was sold for $ 2M by Christie's on December 8, 2000, lot 387, and for $ 12.5M by Sotheby's on November 18, 2024, lot 113. Please watch the short video shared by Sotheby's.
This achievement illustrates a concept by Tiffany that an Edenic landscape may honor God's glory as well as religious figures and stories.
The stunning landscape at sunset is viewed from behind a balcony with flourishing apple trees and a field of red poppies. Within the Tiffany Studios organization, it is a technical feat by the Tiffany Girls team from a cartoon by Agnes Northrop.
Kept at the Church until 1990, the Danner Memorial Window was sold for $ 2M by Christie's on December 8, 2000, lot 387, and for $ 12.5M by Sotheby's on November 18, 2024, lot 113. Please watch the short video shared by Sotheby's.
This achievement illustrates a concept by Tiffany that an Edenic landscape may honor God's glory as well as religious figures and stories.
#AuctionUpdate: Standing an impressive sixteen feet in height, the breathtaking Danner Memorial Window by Tiffany Studios has sold for $12.5M. #SothebysModern pic.twitter.com/62DxkoJlde
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) November 19, 2024
