This rare Abalone Desk Lamp features a Favrilefabrique or “Linenfold” Shade in a rich amber color palette.
Tiffany Studios likely introduced the Abalone Desk Set after 1910. In period sales booklets issued by the company, Tiffany Studios praised the “beautiful workmanship” of the Abalone Desk Set's decorative motif of incised coiling grapevines and stylized grape clusters formed by inset discs of naturally iridescent Abalone shell.
This particular lamp model may have been produced closer to 1915, when Tiffany Studios was issued a patent for the Favrilefabrique or “Linenfold” production process in which panels of glass were pressed in a mold to recreate the appearance of fabric. Tiffany’s sales brochures from the period emphasized that this new glass “resemble(s) silk in texture and color but will neither soil, fade nor get out of shape.” This lamp model was pictured the company’s promotional booklets, including “Suggestions for Gifts” and several highlighting the company’s desk set patterns.
The base of this rare lamp, in the original acid-etched gold patina, features an octagonal stepped foot decorated on the flat surface with a repeating design of clusters of three discs of abalone shell framed by a spiraling motif, a variation of the decoration of the Abalone Desk Set. From the foot, a central four-sided stem is decorated on the flat planes with inset rectangular pieces of Abalone shell arranged in a stepped pattern. The base supports a 12-sided leaded glass shade formed by flat panels of Tiffany’s Favrilefabrique glass in a deep amber tone, with a flat top decorated with 12 inset Abalone discs.
Both the shade and base of this authentic Tiffany lamp are signed with firm’s marks and model numbers. This lamp retains the original perforated heat cap in matching patina.
Height: 16 inches (40.6 cm)
Diameter: 10 inches (25.4 cm)