Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

My father-in-law had bought it around 1928, in Chicago.

APPRAISER

And did you use it over the years?

GUEST

We used it up until around 1960, and then since then, it's been in storage.

APPRAISER

Was using it up till around 1960, did that have anything to do with having children in the house?

GUEST

Yes, we had children and dogs at that time, mm-hmm.

APPRAISER

Well, I'm very glad that you held on to it and that you were able to keep it in such great condition because this is a Tiffany Studios 12-Light Lily Lamp. Sometimes we call it the "Pond Lily." In fact, I believe that's what Tiffany referred to it in his inventory lists when he was selling these lamps. And the reason why he said Pond Lily, you can see the little lily pads down here that cluster around the stems leading up to these beautiful glass shades which are resembling flowers. This is such a great patina-- the finish over the bronze that this base is made out of. The finish is an original finish, and what was very refreshing for me today was to see an original finish because so many of them get stripped over the years, and then people try to fix them and it just never looks like the original. But this is original.

GUEST

How old would this be, then?

APPRAISER

Well, they were making this from 1902 probably right up until the 1920s. I would say that yours is more on the earlier end of things because this was the kind of work that was being done from 1902 probably to about 1915. The shades, which are the most valuable part of the lamp, are all intact. What's happened with lily lamps is that it's been a very movable feast. The prices have sort of gone up and down and shot way up, but over the past couple years, I think they've reached a new plateau which people are very comfortable at buying them at, and I would value this lamp today between $30,000 and $40,000.

GUEST

Amazing.