Tiffany Lamp Care Guide: Cleaning and Looking After Stained Glass

A Tiffany-style lamp is made from hundreds of pieces of hand-cut art glass joined with copper foil and solder. With simple care it will keep its colour and finish for decades. This guide covers everyday cleaning, safe use and storage.

Everyday dusting

• Switch the lamp off and let the bulb and shade cool completely.
• Dust the shade with a soft, dry microfibre cloth or a soft brush, working gently along the solder lines.
• Dust the base the same way. Avoid feather dusters with hard quills that can catch on glass edges.

Deeper cleaning

• Unplug the lamp and, if you can do so safely, lift the shade off the base.
• Wipe the glass with a cloth barely dampened with lukewarm water. A drop of mild, pH-neutral soap is fine for greasy marks.
• Dry immediately with a clean soft cloth so water does not sit in the seams.
• Never soak the shade or put it under running water, and never spray cleaner directly onto it.

What to avoid

• Ammonia or vinegar glass cleaners, which can dull the patina on the solder lines.
• Abrasive pads, scouring powder or solvents.
• Polishing the solder: the dark or bronze tone is a deliberate patina finish.

Bulbs and heat

Use a bulb no stronger than the wattage marked on the lamp. LED bulbs are a good choice because they run cool and reduce heat stress on the glass and solder. Choose a warm colour temperature to show the art glass at its best.

Placement

• Place the lamp on a stable, level surface where it cannot be knocked.
• Keep it away from long periods of strong direct sunlight and from heaters or steam.
• Lift the lamp by the base, never by the shade.

Storage and moving

Store the shade and base separately, wrap the shade in soft tissue, and keep it in a padded box. When moving, never put the base on top of the shade.

Repairs

If a glass piece cracks, keep any fragments and contact us with photos and the item number. Read more about how our lamps are built in How Tiffany Lamps Are Made.