Tiffany Studios Nautilus Desk Lamp

This incredibly rare and exquisite Tiffany Studios desk lamp features a patinated bronze base in the form of a nude siren rising from foamy ocean waves, cast from a model by famed sculptor Louis A. Gudebrod. Bearing a nautilus “shell” overhead, a spiraled seashell-shaped lampshade crafted of opalescent Tiffany glass and bronze crowns this majestic desk lamp. When illuminated, creamy amber tones and sea-foam green hues glow with serene ambiance. The luminous art glass is expertly set in patinated bronze, both signatures of Tiffany Studios. The glass employed in Louis Comfort Tiffany’s designs possesses a delicate balance of vibrant color and rich texture distinct to each piece. Skillful design, careful execution and intensity of color combine to make this desk lamp among Tiffany’s most elegant lighting pieces.

Louis Comfort Tiffany is internationally recognized as a master of the American decorative arts. Considered to be the driving force behind the Art Nouveau style in America, Tiffany is known best for his striking lamps and stained-glass windows. Though Tiffany first started his experiments with stained glass in 1875, it was not until 10 years later that he opened Tiffany Glass Company, which was later changed to Tiffany Studios in 1900. By the 1890s, he was the leading art glass producer, serving wealthy New Yorkers and commissioning pieces for Mark Twain, Cornelius Vanderbilt and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. Tiffany stated that his lamps allowed people to enjoy the elements of nature all year long in the beauty of his glass. Now, the rarity and elegance of Tiffany’s lamps make them some of the most desired antiques, confirming his legacy as a visionary of the Art Nouveau movement.

Bronze base stamped “GUDEBROD” and “TIFFANY STUDIOS / NEW YORK / 267”

Circa 1905

5" wide x 10" deep x 16 1/4" high