tiffany glass
A beautiful lamp with tiffany glass shades illuminates the cozy reading nook.
Noun: A type of opalescent, often iridescent, colored glass, characterized by its rich hues and distinctive, often streaky or mottled, appearance. It was developed and popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily for use in decorative stained-glass windows, lampshades, and other artistic objects.
This term refers specifically to the glass material itself, which is a key component in the artistic works of Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studios. It is used as a mass noun.
- The museum's collection features several lamps made with exquisite Tiffany glass.
- The church window is notable for its use of vibrant Tiffany glass.
- Collectors highly value authentic Tiffany glass for its unique color and texture.
- The term is often used attributively (functioning as an adjective) to describe objects made from this material, such as "a Tiffany glass lampshade" or "Tiffany glass panels."
- In an art historical context, it is used to discuss the Art Nouveau movement and American decorative arts.
- Favrile glass: This was Tiffany's proprietary name for his brand of iridescent glass. While all Favrile glass is a type of Tiffany glass, not all Tiffany glass (especially that made by imitators) is Favrile.
- Opalescent glass: A broader category of glass that Tiffany glass falls under, characterized by a milky, iridescent quality.
- Opalescent glass
- Favrile glass (a specific brand/subtype)
- Art glass (a broader, more general term)
- Stained glass: The general art form for which Tiffany glass was a popular material.
- Leaded glass: Refers to the technique of joining glass pieces with lead cames, commonly used with Tiffany glass in windows and lamps.
The term specifically denotes the distinctive glass material, not the finished object. A "Tiffany lamp" is a lamp made from or with Tiffany glass. The primary meaning is tied to its historical period (c. 1890-1930), its visual characteristics (opalescence, rich color), and its association with the Tiffany studios.
A beautiful lamp with tiffany glass shades illuminates the cozy reading nook.
- a kind of opalescent colored glass that was used in the early 1900s for stained-glass windows and lamps