The Dragonfly

The tiffany dragonfly lamp is one of the most recognized lamps produced by the tiffany studios. Many of tiffany’s lamps have been patterned and marketed as reproduction kits. The package includes a styrofoam or fiberglass mould, paper patterns, and a detailed set of instructions. When I decided to built my first reproduction lamp, I chose the dragonfly. Sixty plus hours later I realized why the manufactures sell the lamps in kit form rather than the completed product.

This was the first tiffany lamp I built. It was also the first and last packaged kit I ever purchased. From that point on I learned to make three dimensional forms and designed only original work. If you are a glass artist and want to design and make one of a kind lamps, a great selection of moulds are available. You should always start with a mould that is full size. H. L. Worden sells styrofoam sectional moulds that are blank. You buy enough moulds to complete a 360 degree form and glue them together. I have seen wooden forms which have been turned on a lathe. You can expect to pay between $600 - $1400 depending on the size and shape. For this reason alone styrofoam seems to be the affordable alternative.

Recently there has been a huge influx of tiffany reproduction lamps in the marketplace. They are manufactured overseas and imported to all the lighting companies. With what it costs to support a stained glass studio it would cost $3500 to create a custom tiffany lamp, and that is an entry level cost with no base. I have seen the imports retail for as low as $250. Go figure.