It may surprise you to discover that you may already be or may soon be counting yourself among the number of individuals that appreciate home lamp choices that originated in the 1800's. And even if you're not usually interested in antiques, now manufacturers are offering modern day versions of these time honored lamps that might appeal to you. Of course there are also a lot of lighting choices that do not reflect bygone eras and these might appeal to you instead. Fortunately with so much variety to choose from, you'll easily be able to find the right look that fits your needs and style.
Looking into the future of lighting trends, there are signs of increased research, development and getting products to the marketplace that feature the use of fluorescent lighting, compact fluorescent light bulbs, solar lamps, and LED (light emitting diodes). Modern lamps might also feature stainless steel or mica. Artistry in lamps might include more colors both in light bulbs or in crafting and color blending on shades. Some newer lighting choices may seem like they cost more or less in dollars in the short or long term, but consider other factors that may be important to you as well. For example, you may not want to deal with things such as: buzzing noises, glaring or yellowed light effects, extra time needed for lights to fully "turn on", or lamps that are dimmer than expected.
Again looking towards the future in lighting, keep in mind that sometimes what's old and good stays around or tends to come back around with many things, including furniture, clothing, home decorating and lighting styles. So don't count out things that could well be oldies but goodies with renewed interest in them again. For instance, it doesn't look like the incandescent light bulb is disappearing anytime soon despite the appearance of additional lighting choices. And, after all, there are still many folks that love using candles and oil lamps either for necessity, for specific decorating needs, or for special ambiance and style. Since we're all individuals with varying tastes, there are always some people who prefer different lighting than what everyone else has. In terms of trends returning, Tiffany lamps are a good case in point within the lighting realm, as they have gone from fame, to decline, and then to renewed fame again.
Tiffany lamps are adored by many savvy decorators as well as by regular folks just looking for a "nice lamp" because the stained glass shades look absolutely stunning. These lamps add both a classic feel as well as art nouveau style to your home. If you take a close look at Tiffany lamp shades and bases, you will be able to appreciate the intricate artwork involved, which is nothing short of amazing. It's understandable why some refer to these lamps, then, as the connoisseurs' choice.
The history of Tiffany lamps goes a long way back. Louis Comfort Tiffany created the first lamp in approximately 1895. Ever since then, these lamps have been extremely popular with art lovers around the world. The best part about these lamps is that they are typically handmade, rather than being mass produced or machine produced. There are generally seven categories of these lamps. You might see them referred to as either Irregular Upper, Lower Border, Favrile, Geometric, Transition to Flowers, Flowered Cone, or Flowered Globe. However, many manufacturers do not include such specifications in their descriptions so don't be surprised if you don't actually see these terms included in item descriptions when shopping for these lamps.
It is very hard to find original Tiffany lighting these days. Although there are a few lamps available for sale, they are very expensive. Not very long ago, an original Tiffany Studios lamp was sold for a mammoth ,000,000. So, if you love Tiffany products and would like to take one home, you should select what is actually a 'Tiffany Reproduction' or a 'Tiffany Replica', since that's what is mostly available today. These replica lamps are made in similar styles or through similar artistry and are sold as Tiffany lamps. You'll know by the price tag easily, though, that you are buying a reproduction since it'll be priced far less than the millions of dollars the original antiques have sold for at auctions.
Do you want more help in deciding whether an 1800's style Tiffany lamp reproduction is right for your 21st century home? Consider visiting local lamp stores to see some in action, learning more about Tiffany lamps and their history from encyclopedias or Wikipedia, and browsing photos and descriptions at online lighting shops that offer Tiffany lamps as well as other lighting choices.
