09/08/2025
Original Tiffany Lily Pond Table Lamp; From Disaster to Triumph!
I have over 30 years of experience working in vintage lighting and restoration, operating an antique metal art fabricating shop, and have four patents under my belt. And yet, this Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios lamp might have been one of the toughest projects we have ever worked on.
The previous owner received this Tiffany lamp from her mother, who had inherited it from her great aunt. The great aunt had purchased the lamp brand new in 1905! Frustrated that the lamp never worked, the previous owner was considering donating it to Goodwill. However, she decided to offer it to our current clients. Our clients brought the lamp to us for rewiring. It was a true challenge and it required all the skills I’ve acquired over these 30 years to ensure a successful repair. For a while I was uncertain if I could revive the Tiffany to its original glory.
Upon disassembling it, we discovered four bridges still containing the original wire. However, the wire was asbestos-soaked in tar, making removal a daunting task. To address this challenge, we designed and constructed a specialized tool to extract the asbestos wire. This tool proved effective on three of the four bridges, but unfortunately, the wire broke inside the last bridge. I was immediately very upset. The possibility that I might be unable to bring the light to all of the shades weighed so heavily on me. For three weeks, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me.
Since I started my journey with the Lord at 29 years old, my most consistent job has been solving problems and navigating the impossible. I wrestled with this belief that I have had for the last 20 years, that all negative things that happen to me, happen for my ultimate good. So I sat and pondered what God was wanting me to learn from this. Then, an inspiration struck.
I ventured into my workshop to see if I had the materials to recreate a perfect replacement for the original pipe. I checked if I had any brass pipe with the exact inner and outer diameter required. As I walked over to the corner of my shop, I pulled out a stick of 5/16 brass pipe, and to my astonishment, it matched the original pipe on the Tiffany. Despite the rarity and age of the original pipe, I held a brass pipe with the exact dimensions that I was looking for. What are the odds of that?!
I thought it would take so much effort and time to make the bends in the pipe to duplicate the original. I began bending it and it came out almost perfect on the first try, just like magic! It took me about an hour to mold it into the perfect shape.
However, the question lingered: could this possibly work? How would we achieve the perfect patina? After another three weeks of experimentation we finally succeeded. We meticulously stripped and refinished the pipe four times before we were able to ensure the authenticity of the patina. Finally, we held an exact replica, one that I feel was indistinguishable from the original pipes of the lamp. Additionally, we fabricated necessary parts to install the new sockets. Finally, we wired all ten bridges successfully.
when we presented the project to our client, they were overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging. They said two things: they would have never noticed the new bridge if we hadn’t told them about it, and that the Antique Roadshow wouldn’t be able to detect the piece we had replaced. Succeeding in the restoration of this esteemed piece despite the adversity we faced with it, emboldened me with the knowledge that even the hardest of challenges can work out for the best and teach us something new.
Do you have a Tiffany Lily lamp with multiple lights that is in need of repair and you can’t find anyone to fix it?
Contact us at Vintage Lighting Inc at 219-369-3241 and let us make it a hit!
