John Rose
Specialized Lamp Repair
These lamps are called many names— Tiffany lamp, Tiffany style, slag glass, and bent glass. Our specialty is the replacement of the glass panels and overall repair of the lamps. We repair metal filigree, structural parts, and other broken metal parts of the shade. We reinforce weak areas and make the lamp whole.
Send pictures and we'll send comments about your lamp and an estimate. Or send a good description, or just call me.
Sometimes the panels are easy to remove and replace, and you need only send an intact panel. More often, some damage has been done to the metal part of the lamp or it is out of shape, and it is better to send the whole lamp.
Take a good look at your own lamp, and compare it to the samples shown on this page.
Right: A lamp whose panels are held in place by metal tabs. These are soldered onto the metal lamp structure and bent to hold the glass in place. The tabs may come loose from the lamp or break from fatigue. Old tabs can be re-attached and new tabs can be made.
Left: A metal channel receives the glass near the base of the shade, and metal tabs along the sides of the glass hold it in place.
To remove a piece of glass held in with tabs, bend the tabs so that the glass can be lifted out. Be careful when doing this. Get under the metal with a putty knife or other thin blade. Bend the metal, but do pry against the glass. Sometimes glue has been applied to the glass, and this should be cut away. Basic rule: Never force the glass.
Right: A common method of construction. There is a brass channel wrapped around each piece of glass and soldered in place. The brass channels are soldered one to another in several spots to give the lamp its form. Typically, extra decorative strips and filigree are added.
Skill with a soldering iron is required to disassemble a lamp of this type. Here's the process: soldered areas are un-soldered, and an intact glass panel with the surrounding brass channel is sent. If you don't want to send the whole lamp, consider taking it to your local stained glass store or someone they recommend. Such a person could remove and re-install the replacement panels that we make. If you put us in contact, I can communicate directly with your local crafter about your project. Note: I can guarantee only my own work.
Left: This example has metal strips that hold the glass in place and hide the glass edges. Screws attach the strips to the lamp frame—remove these and the glass can be removed. A rather rare style.
Right: A lamp composed of many pieces of curved glass. Each piece is wrapped with copper foil and soldered, a typical method for making lamps, ornaments and small windows. This type requires our direct attention.
When matching glass, we consider how the glass looks with the light on, with the light off, the color, density and translucency of the glass, and any texture that is part of the glass. If we can't match all qualities, we'll be in touch.
If all your panels are broken, we'll need the lamp to reconstruct the glass shapes. Send some color chips.