Philip Handel (age 19) and Adolph Eydam (age 21) formed a partnership in 1885 and created the “Eydam and Handel Company” in Meriden, Connecticut specializing in glass decorating and lamp manufacturing. They used lamp bases from other suppliers not their own lamp bases. In 1892 the partnership ended and the company later moved to larger facilities in New York city in 1893 and was known as “Philip J. Handel” and later as “Handel and Company”. In 1902 they opened their own foundry and began producing their own lamp bases. The Handel Company was incorporated on June 11, 1903 and Philip J. Handel, Albert Parlow, and Antone Teich were the principals. In 1906, Philip J. Handel married Fannie Hirschfield Handel his second wife. She became the company’s president upon Philip Handel’s death in 1914. In 1918 she remarried and in 1919 William F. Handel, Philip’s cousin took control of the company.

Following World War I was a period of tremendous growth. The economy was roaring and the company had assembled a very impressive and talented group of artists and craftsmen. However, the Great Depression drastically changed the company’s fortunes and by 1929 the company was struggling. The company ceased production completely in 1936. The Handel Lamp Company was the very finest maker of reverse-painted lamps. Handel also made some leaded glass lamps. The company is a prime example of fine American quality craftsmanship.

Handel bases were most commonly made of a zinc alloy, spelter with a bronze patina or finish. Some were made of genuine bronze. The marking was commonly the company name on the bottom of the base. The markings consisted of raised letters and/or a label. Sometimes the marking would be underneath the base or sometimes on top of the the base. Lamp shades were marked on metal components and/or on the glass itself. Some of the glass pieces are signed by the artists.

Many of the medium to larger Handel lamp bases were wired with multiple sockets which were operated by pull chains that had small and various shaped pull balls on the ends of the chain.

It has long been a common practice to match slag glass lamp shades, Tiffany type shades and others to various lamp bases that were not the original. Another common practice has been to place an unsigned shade on a signed Handel lamp base and pass the entire lamp off as a “Handel”. Many if not most lamps and shades are referred to as Handel lamps simply because the style is similar to that of an original Handel lamp. Experts today suggest that about 90% of all lamps called Handel were not actually made by Handel. There are many lamps that are signed but that are not authentic. Identification of Handel leaded lamps is a subjective process that few people are qualified to do.

Given the company’s history it may be difficult to prove the negative: i.e. that a particular lamp is NOT a Handel. But as usual, money speaks and you will find that a Handel lamp and shade with correct markings, attributes and documentation commands a very premium price as compared to any lamp that is “attributed to Handel”.

For instance, some of Handel’s small and simple desk and simple piano lamps have recently sold for around $500. Generally the more complex ones sell for over $2,000. There are some rare ones that have sold for over $80,000.

Some Handel glass artists are highly regarded and their works bring a premium price. Their signatures can be seen on some Handel lamp shades. Among these Handel artists are Bailey, Bedigie, Broggi, Gubisch, Matzow, Palme, and Parlow and Runge.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=etched+glass&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=stained+glass&_osacat=0

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=stained+glass+&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=etched+glass&_osacat=0

Louis Comfort Tiffany was incredibly innovative and single handedly set the stained glass world on a new course. Tiffany came up with an idea to amalgamate bits and pieces of discarded glass thrown off from production of his stained glass windows to form beautiful decorative lamps. Tiffany’s diverse collection of eclectic colors and techniques, known today as Tiffany glass, continues to be in a class of it’s own. Louis Comfort Tiffany was heavily influenced by Japanese art forms in which nature was front and center.

An artist by design
Louis Comfort Tiffany, a man of fine tastes, was a very popular interior designer. He introduced his style and left his mark in the U.S. by redecorating a number of private homes and public spaces. Mark Twain, Cornelius Vanderbilt and, the presidential White House are listed among Tiffany�s clients.

A Brief Timeline of The Life of Louis Comfort Tiffany
1848 Louis Comfort Tiffany, the son of the founder of Tiffany
and Co. jewelers (Charles Lewis Tiffany), is born in New York City.
1878 First business is launched, Louis C. Tiffany & Co.
First stained-glass figure window is produced.
1885 Tiffany works with Thomas Edison to develop the decorative
and stage lighting for the Lyceum Theater in New York City, the
first theater ever to have electric illumination.
1892 Tiffany establishes his first plant, Tiffany Furnaces, in Corona, NY.
1893 Two large-scale Tiffany light fixtures are on display at the
World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
1894 Trademark for the Favrile-glass is registered with the United States Patent Office.
1899 The first important exhibition of Tiffany products is held in
London. Show includes blown-glass vases and bowls, pendants for
electric lights, lamp and candle shades.
1899 The first Tiffany lamp with a heavy bronze base is introduced.
Patterns include the nautilus, dragonfly and Tyler scroll.
1900 First electric Tiffany table lamp exhibited in Paris.
1902 Company name is changed to Tiffany Studios.
1904 New line of pottery, copper enamels and jewelry is shown at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.
1906-1916 A large number of gift items are added to the line, including jewelry boxes,
cigar boxes, picture frames, planters, spun metal dishes.
Retailers carrying these items include Marshall Field’s Neiman Marcus and Shreve’s.
1913 Company introduces a new kind of glass, Tiffany linen-fold,
which is used exclusively for lamp shades.
1919 Louis C. Tiffany retires from active participation in his
company, but retains title of President. Tiffany Studios’ sumptuous
building on Madison Ave. in New York is vacated. Tiffany returns to
his early love, oil painting, and devotes time to establishing the
Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation.
1933 Tiffany dies at age 85.

Tiffany and Tiffany & Co. are registered trademarks of Tiffany and Company.

Click on above link for full article.

Click on above link for the History a Phillip J. Handel

Click on above link or copy and paste.