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.
Monumental Pair Mid Century Table Lamps
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of oversized glass Hollywood Regency style table lamps, having off white satin glass bottle form bodies with alternating silver and gold metallic drip form decoration...
Metal
French Empire Style Table Lamps by Stiffel, a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of French Empire style table lamps made by Stiffel. Brass columns are turned with large ceramic fonts in white trimmed in gold. Bases are decorated with dentils on a square ba...
Brass
$650
H 36 in W 5 in D 5 in
Vintage Stiffel White Glass Column French Hollywood Regency Table Lamps - a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel White Glass Column French Hollywood Regency Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 36" H (to finial) x 23" H (to light socket) x 5" W x 5" D. {3...
Metal
Hollywood Regency Urn Lamps - a Pair
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Fantastic pair of Mid Century Hollywood Regency Frosted Urn Form Lamps. Wonderfully painted leaves in a frosted pink and very pale aqua with gold branches. Sits atop a brass tone fil...
Glass, Paint
Pair of 1970's Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
Located in Burbank, CA
Pair of vintage 1970’s Hollywood Regency table lamps for sale. In excellent vintage condition. Made of stainless steel with brass accents and brass ball feet. Really solid and well m...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Pair of Hollywood Regency-Style Brass and Glass Stiffel Table Lamps
By Stiffel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Statuesque Hollywood Regency-Style table lamps by Stiffel composed of solid brass stems and adornments with white enameled metal accents. Includes glass shades/diffusers only (the br...
Metal, Brass
$1,320 / set
H 19.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
A Pair Of Hollywood Regency Neoclassical Revival Trophy Table Lamps. Circa 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
A Pair Of Mid Century Hollywood Regency Neoclassical Revival Style Trophy Table Lamps. Circa 1960s Features a faux-aged gold and white distressed crackle texture with a neoclasical i...
Resin
Hollywood Regency Designer Table Lamp Set
Located in South Charleston, WV
His and Hers table lamps. One is 39" tall, the other 38" tall. 8" wide. Lightswitch located at 27" mark and both have 3-way power sockets. Featuring gold and chrome in a stacked disc...
Steel, Chrome
Pair of Hollywood Regency Table Lamps by Shine by S.H.O
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large stately pair of table lamps manufactured by Shine. The feature wood bases with printed ceramic bodies. Tested and fully working. Bases have an 8 inch diameter.
Metal
Vintage Corinthian Neoclassical Table Lamps Pair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Offering One of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Lighting Acquisitions Of A Pair of Vintage 1970s Italian Neoclassical Table ...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Pair of Sculptural Acrylic Table Lamps by Rembrandt
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This rare set of 1970s table lamps by Rembrandt Lamp feature leaf-shaped shafts elegantly rendered in ivory-toned acrylic. The acrylic envelops the brass base and black painted spine...
Metal
MCM High Style Hollywood Regency God & Goddess Pillar Table Lamps, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This pair of 1950s Neoclassical-style table lamps features the busts of Greek gods mounted on the lower half of a lacquered Doric column. The figures are skillfully carved in wood an...
Wood
Modernist Twin Cylinder Chrome Table Lamp
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Modernist, midcentury inspired twin cylinder lamp featuring a chrome base and body featuring two 2 lights each with a frosted glass cylinder shade.
Steel, Chrome
Hollywood Regency Three Candle Bakelite & Brass Table Lamp, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Two pairs of ornate fireplace mantles, each is a three-light candelabra white Bakelite, and brass table lamps. These candelabra are a good example of early designer Hollywood Regency...
Brass
Art Deco Celluloid and Brass Table Lamp
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Art Deco celluloid and brass table lamp with stepped brass base and stem. The center column is made of a solid ribbed piece of ...
Brass
Hollywood Regency Brass-tone Floor Standing Candelabra w/ Claw-foot Base, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This elegant custom-made brass-tone pair of Hollywood Regency floor-standing candelabras features a modern design with a classical edge. Each candelabra stands at 5' foot 9" and is c...
Steel
