Stiffel Furniture
When Ted Stiffel (1899–1971) founded Stiffel in 1932 in Chicago, he wanted to make functional, thoughtfully designed table lamps, floor lamps and other fixtures that were available at an accessible price. Born in Memphis, Stiffel first pursued a career in music before serving in World War I. After his discharge, he worked with the Western Electric Company in Chicago and then the Nellie J. Kaplan Company, a lighting firm also in the Windy City.
After he started his own lamp business, Stiffel began supplying area department stores and by the 1940s had opened a large factory that was producing lamps for nationwide sale, eventually competing with the likes of the Frederick Cooper Lamp Company, also based in Chicago.
In 1948, designer Edwin J. Cole joined the company and created some of the firm’s most striking table lamps. Today, Cole’s vintage mid-century modern lighting fixtures for Stiffel, frequently with distinctively tall and shapely ceramic bodies and finished with decorative brass chinoiserie details, are highly prized by collectors.
One of Stiffel’s innovations was his patented switch, which simplified turning lights on and off: All someone had to do was grasp a lamp’s pole and gently pull down. He also designed a pole lamp with a vertical tube that held a series of fixtures on the outside. The upright pole lamp was so innovative that Sears, Roebuck and Company copied it. Stiffel sued, and the case ended up in the Supreme Court in 1964. The ruling against Stiffel was influential in whether states can give a patent to objects that do not have the invention required of federal patents.
After declaring bankruptcy in 2000, the brand was revived in 2013 in Linden, New Jersey, where newly produced high-quality lamps carry the Stiffel name.
Find a collection of vintage Stiffel lamps and other lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Stiffel
Pair of Stiffel Fluted and Studded Brass Urn Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Large studded and fluted brass table lamps from the best years of Stiffel, the fine lamp maker. Black lacquered bases feature subtle chamfered feet. Surmounting the brass urns are br...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Brass Tulip Shade Floor Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass stemmed and tulip shade torchiere with four arched legs.
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass, Metal
Brass and Ceramic Stiffel Lamp, 1960s, USA
By Stiffel
Located in Miami, FL
Monumental blue ceramic and brass lamp by Stiffel.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Tall Tommi Parzinger Style Nickel & Brass Stiffel Lamp with Milk Glass Shade
By Tommi Parzinger, Stiffel
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Substantial Hollywood Regency Stiffel brushed Brass & Nickel Plate Table Lamp. Circa 1960. Small footprint. Featuring a tall slender reflective form a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Nickel, Brass
Pair of Stiffel Crackle Glaze Ceramic and Brass Moorish Style Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Excellent pair of brass and ceramic bodied Moorish style table lamps by Stiffel. Ceramic bodies are a mottled sea foam green crackle glazed u...
Category
1960s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair Stiffel Porcelain Obelisk & Decorative Brass Table Lamps.
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Stiffel neoclassical table lamps with Lenox porcelain obelisk bodies detailed in gilt edging. Wood base with brass feet, brass decorative pineapple and leafed spacer. Brass s...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large Brass Fluted Drum Shape Table Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice looking solid brass Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Pair of Stiffel Brass Crown and Sage Lacquer Obelisk Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
These unique Art Deco inspired table lamps by Stiffel are comprised of brilliantly juxtaposed brass and cast resin in the form of weather...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Brass Table Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Pair of Mid-Century Modernist Stiffel Brass Candlestick Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Kingston, NY
This beautiful pair of Mid-Century Modernist candlestick table lamps are by Stiffel in the manner of Tommi Parzinger. They feature an antique brass finish and detailing with four tub...
Category
1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Hollywood Regency Stiffel Co. Brass and Ebonized Column Form Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of Stiffel Co. brass and ebonized column form table lamps each signed. Each done in the Hollywood Regency Fashion of metal brass and ebony design with milk glass globes.
Category
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Stiffel Furniture
Stiffel Tri-Light Floor Lamp, Hexagon Base and Finished in Antiqued Brass, 1960s
By Stiffel
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Stiffel tri-light floor lamp, hexagon base and finished in an antiqued brass finish. From the mid-late 1960s. The lamp is fitted with a Tri-light center lamp and milkglass shade, and...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Stiffel Ostrich Egg and Antique Brass Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
A very elegant pair of table lamps from Stiffeal. They feature "ostrich egg" porcelain bodies with antiqued brass square plinth bases and capitals. The keyed switch and original milk...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Brass Table Lamp Mid Century Modern Stacked Orbits Jacks Base Pattern
By Tommi Parzinger, Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Tall sharp looking brass table lamp by Stiffel.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Stiffel White Crackle Glazed Ceramic and Brass Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of heavy bodied, white craquelure glazed ceramic table lamps. Patinated brass appointments from the best days of American premier lighting company, Stiffel. Sold sans shades.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Solid Brass Stiffel Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
A solid brass table lamp by Stiffel on a circular brass base plate. The bulbous form ascending from the base features thumbprint impressions all around. The thin stem tapers off until it meets a smaller brass plate...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Hollywood Regency White Craquelure Ceramic and Brass Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large scale white craquelure ceramic lamps with brass base and hardware. The Stiffel Lamp Company, circa 1960's.
Measures 37.5 height, la...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Stiffel Mahogany & Brass Open Base Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Exceptionally designed mahogany and brass open base table lamp by Stiffel. Tapered mahogany body topped with a brass stem and brass bobeche. Brass base is an open circle with four br...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Stifle Brass Table Lamp
By Tommi Parzinger, Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice brass stiffel table lamp.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Large Stiffel Green Ceramic Asian Style Table Lamp with Brass Fittings
By Stiffel
Located in St. Louis, MO
Large-scale Stiffel green ceramic Asian Style lamp with brass details. Shade shown for display only.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Crackle Glazed Porcelain and Brass Lamps by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Pair of classically styled crackled glazed ceramic lamps on satin brass bases. Rewired for use in the USA.
Shades not included.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Nickel Stiffel Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of Mid Century Stiffel lamps newly plated in nickel and rewired with French braid wire. in the style of Tommi Parzinger.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Nickel
Candelabra Lamp by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in Hanover, MA
Large scale candelabra lamp by Stiffel Lighting, sometimes attributed to Tommi Parzinger.
Category
1960s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Brass Ostrich Egg Wall Sconces, 1990
By Stiffel
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of brass and ostrich egg large Hollywood Regency style sconces.
Category
Late 20th Century American Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
A bespoken Stiffel brass lamp with a lotus design base
By Stiffel
Located in Atlanta, GA
A quite dramatic tall table lamp made by Stiffel lamps USA circa 1960s. Brass construction with a single socket on candlestick-style enamel tubular stand set in a petaled lotus flowe...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Pair of Stiffel Table Lamps with Deco Hollywood Regency Style Glass Diffusers
By Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Stiffel table lamps (wood bases) with deco Hollywood Regency style form
glass diffusers included. In the manner of Tommi Parzinger
Measures: 31.75" to top of glass diffuser...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Nickel Plated 1950's Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Wonderful pair of Stiffel lamps newly plated in polished nickel.
Modernist oil lamp form on four tapered legs. Newly rewired. Shades for display only.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Nickel
Pair of Nickel Plated Open Spiral Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Danville, CA
Pair of solid Nickel plated steel Spiral cage form lamps on black enamel mounted base. The lamps, including new Nickel plated brass sockets and mountings have been replated and rest...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Steel
Neoclassical Tripod Base Brass Table Lamp by Stiffel
By Edwin Cole, Stiffel
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass neoclassical dual socket table lamp by Stiffel. The base is an antiqued solid brass tripod with Italianate legs and a segmented baluster. The switch pulls chains end in a unique turned wood finial. Quite impressive in size and form. Most likely an Edwin Cole design...
Category
1950s American Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Stiffel Solid Brass Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of 1970s tall heavy brass lamps by Stiffel. Newly rewired with new brass sockets. Overall unpolished patina. Each lamps takes one standard bulb ...
Category
1970s North American Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Stiffel Brass Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of very sharp looking Mid-Century Modern table lamps by Stiffle.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stiffel Furniture
Monumental Campaign Style Patinated Brass "Bamboo" Stiffel Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Hudson, NY
Single faux bamboo lamp with square base, circular brass feet and patinated finish. Labelled Stiffel. The shade is not included in packing/ shipping quote.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stiffel Furniture
Materials
Brass, Metal
Stiffel furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Stiffel furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Stiffel furniture, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Stiffel were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Robert Sonneman, Gerald Thurston, and Chapman Manufacturing Company. Prices for Stiffel furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,800 and can go as high as $6,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,800.
Creators Similar to Stiffel
Questions About Stiffel Furniture
- Are Stiffel lamps valuable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021No, Stiffel lamps are not extremely valuable. These lamps typically sell for anywhere between $100 and $500. These lamps are high quality, however, and will last a lifetime.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Stiffel lamps are still in production. With a variety of lamp styles available, the Stiffel Lamp Company has a rich history rooted in unique, art-driven design made with high-quality materials. On 1stDibs, find a unique collection of authentic Stiffel lamps.
- Are Stiffel lamps made in China?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Stiffel lamps are not made in China. The Stiffel Lamp Company was founded in 1932 in Chicago and throughout its many years in business, they proudly still produce all their products in America. Browse a selection of Stiffel lamps on 1stDibs.