Confusing "Tiffany" Mark on Leaded Lamp Shade

The "Tiffany" mark on a leaded glass shade caused confusion during a Midwestern auction. Although honestly represented and sold as a modern copy by the auctioneers, many persons were still confused by the mark.

"© Dale Tiffany" was stamped into a brass strip (Fig. 2) and the strip was soldered inside of the dragonfly shade in Fig. 1. The shade was well done in the copper foil technique but was a modern copy made ca. 1970s-1980s.

Original Tiffany shades are frequently marked with stamped copper strips or tabs. Original marks of that kind, however, are generally very narrow and are soldered or leaded into the edges of shade rims not in the center of the shade. Most original strips have the same patina as the leading in the shade. The most common wording stamped in authentic strips and tabs is TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK (which may or may not be followed by pattern numbers). Any other wording, unusual placement of the strips or strips with no patina should be highly suspect.

The Tiffany made famous for his Art Nouveau lighting, of course, was Louis Tiffany, not Dale.

Fig. 1 New Tiffany lamp.

Fig. 2 © Dale Tiffany Inc. mark stamped on brass strip. Shown about actual size.