5 September 2018 15:00
Anyone who taps on a beautiful Tiffany cap from Art Deco Trade, will have to get used to the sound and feeling: is that actually real glass? It is one of the greatest fables about items from Tiffany. Plastic? No way! In this blog, you will read more about the material...
The world-famous work of the glass artist
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1993) is the famous glass artist who came up with the Tiffany-technique. He melted normal opalescent white glass (which, when turned, shows beautiful, dreamy pastel shades caused by light diffusion) and clear antique coloured glass: the so-called Favrile glass. Tiffany managed to mix up to five different colours of glass. His work changed the world of glass art and the people's view on it completely. Remarkable fact: In 2018, Tiffany products are still made using the same artisanal methods.
All pieces are soldered
But how is it that the glass sounds dull and unclear? The Tiffany Coloured By Art items shine as bright as they do, partially because they contain tens - sometimes even hundreds of different pieces of glass: in all colours of the rainbow. Again, true craftsmanship is involved here, as every cut and abraded piece is wrapped in copper foil. After this, the small glass pieces are rubbed with solder water and are then soldered together on a mould, using solder tin. This linear pattern of copper foil is part of the mostly opulent patterns on the lamps. A process that cannot be accomplished using plastic!
The soldered copper is then patinated in black. This gives it the classic and antique characteristic colour. The last step is having the material sprayed with an antioxidant, to fix and protect it. The special Tiffany technique, the soldered tin that is wrapped around the glass pieces, makes the glass sound dull when it is tapped. For those who do not know the Tiffany procedures, that reinforces the "plastic fable" even further. Just try to slide a heated needle through the glass: impossible... Mystery solved!
Maintenance advice and contacting us
Let it be know: at Art Deco Trade, we use real glass, as should be done with Tiffany items. Every Coloured By Art product comes with a certificate and maintenance advice. If you have any questions, contact us on 085-3036348, send us an email, or visit our showroom in Lexmond. We will be happy to assist! Do not forgot to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, to stay up to date with the latest news.
