Sotheby's sold a Tiffany Studios Magnolia floor lamp for $4.4 million at its Dreaming in Glass auction in New York, making it the most expensive leaded lamp by the decorative arts studio ever sold at auction. The lamp, manufactured around 1910, features a patinated bronze stand and a 28-inch colored glass dome depicting magnolias, and was crafted by Agnes Northrop, Tiffany's star designer, rather than Clara Driscoll. The bidding battle lasted 10 minutes, surpassing the $3 million high estimate.
This sale underscores the enduring strength of the Tiffany Studios market, following recent record-breaking results for Northrop-designed windows, including the Danner Memorial Window ($12.4 million at Sotheby's in 2023) and the Goddard Memorial Window ($4.2 million at Christie's in June). The lamp's rarity—no pristine example had been on the market in two decades—and its connection to Northrop, whose works are held by major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the State Hermitage Museum, elevate its significance. The result also highlights the growing crossover appeal of decorative arts, with Tiffany pieces attracting both traditional collectors and younger audiences on platforms like TikTok.