Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest’s jaw drops after expert revealed the value of her floor lamp (marketrealist.com)
A “Weird Brain Lamp” Turns Out to Be a Tiffany Treasure
An Antiques Roadshow guest received a delightful shock when her unusual floor lamp, affectionately nicknamed the “brain lamp,” was revealed to be a valuable Tiffany Studios creation. The guest, who inherited the lamp from her grandmother, recounted fond childhood memories of playing with the lamp and using it as a spotlight during dress-up performances.
Expert Kathleen Bailey identified the lamp’s glass as “turtle-back tile iridescent glass” and its base as patinated bronze, complete with a lily pad design. To the guest’s astonishment, Bailey confirmed it was indeed a Tiffany lamp, signed and dating back to around 1910.
Although a later addition of a chain slightly detracted from its value, Bailey estimated the lamp’s worth at $30,000 to $40,000 in the current retail market. Restoring the lamp to its original state, which would entail replacing the chain, could further increase its value by $500 to $600, according to Bailey.
The guest, overwhelmed with joy and surprise, expressed her gratitude for the appraisal. The discovery transformed a cherished family heirloom into a valuable piece of art.