Tiffany Lighting Encyclopedia

Glossary of Terms

Accent Lamp - Portable lamp that usually has a shade from 9" to 14" wide and height no taller than 24"

Adjustable Lamp - Portable lamp that has an adjustable height or width or shade position.

Bankers Lamp - Portable desk lamp with an oblong shade that is usually adjustable.

Base - Stabilizing body of a lamp constructed from various materials such as metal, brass, porcelain, resin or wood.

Beveled Glass - Clear glass, with edges that have been ground and polished to an angle other than 90 degrees.

Billiard or Oblong Pendant - Rectangular or Oval shaped shade that is typically suited for suspension over a billiard table, kitchen island or counter.

Bridge Arm Lamp - Table or Floor lamp with an arm supporting a single shade.

Buffet Lamp - Portable lamp, usually tall and slender and suitable for use on a buffet, with height generally no taller than 36".

Canopy - The part of a fixture that mounts to the ceiling or wall and covers the junction box to which the fixture attaches.

Cathedral Glass - Transparent single colored sheet glass, with smooth or textured surfaces.

Chandelier - Surface mounted ceiling fixture with lighted arms.

Copper foil - Narrow strips of copper tape used to wrap the edges of glass that have been cut to fit a pattern. When wrapped, solder is applied bonding the glass pieces together.

Etched Glass - The use of hydrochloric acid or sand blasting to create a matte finish or a specific design on glass.

Fan light - A glass shade that can be used on a ceiling fan.

Finial - Decorative detail on the top of a lamp or the very bottom of a chandelier.

Finish - The decorative color of hardware achieved by painting or plating base or fixture materials.

Fireplace Screen - Decorative screen that covers the opening of a fireplace while not in use.

Fire Screen - Functional fireproof screen that covers the opening of a fireplace while in use.

Fixture - Complete lighting unit usually consisting of socket, housing, shade, and connection to electrical power.

Floor Lamp - A portable lamp with a shade that directs light downward with a height usually taller than 48".

Flushmount - Surface mounted ceiling fixture with three inches or less between the shade and the ceiling.

Glass Jewel - Piece of hot glass that is press-molded into a jewel like shape.

Glue Chip Glass - Texture created on the surface of glass by applying hot glue, which after drying contacts and chips the glass surface resulting in a natural pattern, like frost on a window pane.

Granite Glass - A texture with the appearance of granite that is applied to hot glass sheets with an embossed roller.

Hand Rubbed - Process of hand rubbing to achieve a desired finish.

Hardware - Any component that supports the shade and or socket.

Inverted Pendant - Chain hung ceiling fixture with open end of shade facing toward the ceiling.

Iridescent Glass - Glass with a colorful shimmering effect created when a layer of metallic oxide is bonded to hot glass.

Island Pendant - Ceiling fixture usually multi-shaded, horizontally hung and generally best suited for a kitchen island or billiards table.

Jadestone - Durable, compact thinly cut stone with luminous color that can be shaped and constructed with the copper foil technique.

Mica - A natural mineral bonded with shellac to create a light diffuser, usually available in Silver or Amber colors.

Micro Mini Lamp - Portable table lamp that usually has a shade 4" or smaller and height no taller than 6".

Mini Lamp - Portable table lamp that generally has a shade of 4" to 6" wide and height usually no taller than 15".

Mini Pendant - Surface mounted one light fixture consisting of a single pole or chain, extending from the ceiling canopy with shade no larger than 10" in diameter.

Mini Window - Lighted miniature tabletop glass window suspended from a frame.

Night Light - Small portable light that plugs directly into an electrical outlet.

Opalescent Glass - Glass that incorporates white, or opal glass, into the color mix.

Patina - Coloration of metal finish due to aging or from a solution applied to metal to change its color.

Pendalog - Element that hangs from a shade, base or hardware, usually crystal but can be made of various materials.

Pendant - Ceiling fixture that usually features a shade larger than 10" in diameter, suspended by a single pole or chain extending front the ceiling canopy.

Reverse Painted Glass - Paints are applied to the underside of glass starting with the foreground and ending with the background.

Ripple Glass - Texture that has the appearance of ripples that is applied to hot glass sheets with an embossed roller.

Sconce -Typically, a one or two light fixture surface mounted to a wall.

Sculpture - A lighted or unlighted decorative tabletop accessory.

Seedy Glass - Glass which contains trapped air bubbles created with air or gas injected into the molten glass prior to burning the sheet.

Semi Flush - Surface mounted ceiling fixture with three inches or more between the shade and the ceiling.

Shower - Fixture with a ceiling pan that usually suspends 3 or more pendants.

Stained or Art Glass - Colored glass.

Swag - Pendant or chandelier with chain and wire that can drape across a ceiling to reach a hard mounted electrical box or plug into an electrical outlet

Table Lamp - Portable lamp usually with a shade having a 14" width or larger.

Tiffany - A) Style referring to Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian or scenes of nature. B) The copperfoil technique of stained glass assembly. C) Opalescent glass invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany 1848-1933, son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, an American jeweler.

Torchiere - Portable floor lamp with a shade that directs light upward.

Translucent Glass - Glass that allows Light transmission while diffusing. Objects cannot be seen clearly through its glass.

Turtleback - Molded glass tiles that ate usually irregular in shape and in thickness.

Vanity - Surface mounted wall fixture with three or more lights, usually used in the bathroom.

Washed - Process of lightly applying an accent finish by and hand.

Wispy Glass - Mixed opalescent glass with thin wisps of white or clear glass.