An inspired combination of stained glass, cast bronze, and glass mosaic, the Cobweb lamp is one of Tiffany Studios’ masterpiece creations. The Cobweb transcends traditional lighting design as it becomes an illuminated sculpture. We recently completed this stunning reproduction which is now in a private collection.
Introduced in 1901, the Cobweb lamp was produced as an oil lamp even though Tiffany Studios was creating electrified lamps and fixtures at that time. Fewer than ten original examples are known today, and several of the later Cobweb lamps were made with electrical fittings as oil lamps were going out of style. The Cobweb lamp was included in the 1906 Studios’ price list at $500.00 and was discontinued before Tiffany Studios published their 1910 price guide.
Heavy bronze straps representing the trunk of a flowering tree ascend from the table top, splitting into openwork metal branches that support the shade with an irregular rim. The branch work continues into the shade with heavy sculptural leading.
Between the trunks, the base is covered with fine pictorial glass mosaic representing Narcissus flowers. Bill Campbell painstakingly cut, fit, affixed, and grouted the glass mosaic to the bronze lamp base.
The glass selection for this lamp was exhaustively discussed and carefully considered before the layout began. Since the shade is a series of spider webs strung between branches, leaves, and blossoms, we chose light and airy fracture/confetti/streamer glasses with unique tints and striations of color throughout.
The eight sided shade resembles a cut diamond in shape, with each vignette of cobwebs defined by textured branches.
Much of the fracture glass used for the background was made by Schlitz Studios in the 1980’s and was combined with our own Century Studios produced sheet glass from the early 2000’s.
This is the second Cobweb lamp produced at Century Studios. Knowing the challenges, time commitment, and skill level needed for each step in the creation of a Cobweb lamp, it is amazing to realize that Tiffany Studios produced as many of these spectacular lamps as they did between 1902 and 1910.
