The Lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany

by EIDELBERG MARTIN, Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen

This handsomely designed volume features sixty-five carefully selected Tiffany lamps, drawn from private and public collections across three continents. New photographic techniques reveal Tiffany's mastery of glass making and metal work, while noted authorities on the subject contribute essays on the history of the lamps, enlarging the reader's understanding of their place in the history of decorative art.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously laid out book that showcases a hand selected group of Tiffany lamps that are exquisitely photographed to show off both their color and fine detail. There is wonderful history laid out in the beginning as well as examples of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s early interior design efforts like those at the White House, New York Theater, and the rich industrialist Havemeyer’s Home.

This book is so beautiful that it makes a wonderful coffee table display and I highly recommend it for the gorgeous colorful lamp photographs m…but my favorite photos where of Laurelton Hall and it’s gardens. These are the gardens that inspired Tiffany to paint…filled with vividly colored flowers as inspirational as Monet’s precious Giverney in France.

Don’t get me wrong, I drooled over the gorgeous stained glass lamps…but what captivated me was the history and Laurelton Hall. In fact I have some serious envy of Tiffany’s Laurelton office which was his working space…with its two massive wood desks creating a large working surface, littered with vases filled with flowers from the garden and tons of natural light…some of which was provided by these massive stained glass windows. Serious envy!

This book is so much more than a coffee table book and I think both history enthusiasts, collectors and interior designers alike will fall in love with this gorgeous volume.

For me this is a must own! It also really inspires me to want to own a little piece of American history.

(I have noticed that the publisher has subsequently put out a smaller format of this book…the large format really lets you appreciate all of the fine detail on these leaded lamp shades, I hope that isn’t lost in the newer smaller format book.)

[Jeff Koslowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to have intermediate to expert level knowledge of the subject before you pick up this bookm I went through the exhibit at the Henry Ford and even then a lot of this material went over my head. The best part is the up close color pictures of the collection which makes up the last half of the reading. If you are trying to find out more about Tiffany and the history of the company, this is not the book you're looking for. If you want the art side, this is the coffee table book you want.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing creations. Had to read after I finished Clara & Mr. Tiffany.