Stiffel lamp help.

I acquired a pair of stiffel lamps with stiffel shades a few years ago and I have only found one pair that look even close. Does anyone know what I have? Are they worth much?

 

Good job, Kristina!

Is the harp bent or did you just angle the shade to get the best view? Can we see the on/off knob? How is the condition of the surface of the brass?

 

Always liked Stiffel lamps. They are so well made.

From these photos, looks like 1960s or 1970s Stiffel, possibly a touch later.

Stiffel made hundreds (maybe thousands) of different styles, so you may never run across the set you have.

Having a pair is good value wise, if the shades are original they will probably have the word "Stiffel" on the top ring.

With a few exceptions (anything Stiffel/modernist going through the roof) prices are not what they once were for these very well made lamps.

Also, condition is essential for value. Any pitting or damage to the finish will hurt any value for a classically styled pair like this. People pretty much want mint condition.

 

No, the shade is just tipped. There is quite a bit of pitting, but I have never clean them. That is straight out of fear of ruining them. LOL.

 

You will not be able to just clean/polish up the brass (I don't know if Stiffel used solid brass in those years). There is a lacquered finish on them and it appears and it has been compromised to the point of getting to the finish.

You would need to strip off the lacquer before trying to 'fix' the finish issues. If you could get the brass cleaned up (it does not appear to be an easy fix to me), you'd need to lacquer them afterwards. This whole process would be an undertaking, given the intricacy of the design.

A lot of Stiffel lamps have antique brass finishes on them. I can't tell from the photos if that's the case here. If they are, that finish is where the problem is, and would be impossible to fix with a cleaning and polishing.

 

I picked up a Stiffel with a Stiffel shade from an estate sale a couple months back for $10. Very similar to the ones pictured, but not quite as big. Better condition though.

 

Hi,
I love Stiffel lamps. Started collecting them in the early 1960s. my best deal was in 1986 when I bought three of them for 5 bucks total. When the Stiffel family left Paterson NJ in the 1990s they had a huge estate sale it was a three day affair. I was lucky to buy 5 lamps (all were one of a kind) from the estate. They brought a nice price, I paid 50 dollars each. The most expensive one sold for 3 grand the other ones brought 950 dollars and up. I have four or five stashed in one of my closets. The lamps were extremely well made. They started using brass plating in the 1980s.
The older ones can be stripped of lacquer and repolished. My oldest one was made in the 1950s. I have never tried stripping the newer ones. Never had a problem until I moved here to the Shore. The salt air really takes a toll on the lacquer. Several of my silk shades shattered. I had an Asian lady who recovered the frames with new silk. Gosh I miss all the bright wonderful skillful people I knew in Manhattan. The two old brothers who duplicated all of the fancy expensive perfumes. I used to pay 7 dollars for a 3 oz bottle of JOY. Now all I can do is remember the good old days. I think I have lived too long.
greg

 

I pick up Stiffel's whenever I can find them. We probably have 15 to 20 of them now, dating from the 50's to the 80's I would guess. They don't make lamps like that these days.

 

I also moved to a seaside town and it's taken a toll on my Stiffel lamp. I want to clean them but I haven't found instructions that I trust. Have you had any luck?

 

Hi,
I just remove the lacquer finish and a very mild brass polish and then relacquer. The salt air is also killing all of my steel 1950s lawn furniture. Also my antique outdoor lights for the garage and front door have suffered and been replaced by cast aluminum which have been painted to death.
greg