Why Our Stained Glass Lamps Cost More

Recently, we came across several Tiffany-style lamps being sold online for prices as low as €80.

We’ll be honest, we were genuinely amazed!

At those prices, the cost wouldn’t even cover the materials required to make one of our lamps, never mind the many hours of skilled handwork involved. That curiosity led us to dig a little deeper and investigate how these lamps could possibly be made so cheaply.

What we discovered was eye-opening and a relief.

They’re Not Actually Tiffany-Style Stained Glass Lamps

Despite how they’re marketed, these lamps are not made using the traditional Tiffany stained glass technique and in most cases, they’re not even made from real glass.

Instead, they are typically produced using:

• Acrylic or resin rather than stained glass

• Moulded shapes, not individual glass pieces

• Painted or printed “leaded” lines, or decal strips stuck onto the surface

• No copper foil

• No solder

• Zero structural integrity
  

They’re lightweight, unbreakable and cheap to ship, perfect for mass production, but a world away from the genuine stained glass craftsmanship involved in making our stained glass lamps.

This method costs a fraction of what it takes to create a real Tiffany-style lamp, which explains the massive price difference.

How Our Lamps Are Made at Eirlume Studio

Every lamp we create at Eirlume Studio is made using the traditional Tiffany copper-foil technique, a process that is both time-intensive and deeply skilled.

Each lamp involves:

✦ Real stained glass

We work with genuine coloured stained glass, sourced from Pangur glass in Cavan, where the colour runs through the glass itself, not painted on the surface. This gives our lamps their richness and gorgeous glow when lit.

✦ Hand cutting, grinding & foiling

Every individual piece of glass is:

• Hand-cut

• Carefully ground

• Wrapped in copper foil
  
  So many pieces come together to form a single lamp.

✦ Soldered by hand

Once foiled, each piece is soldered together by hand. It’s a slow, careful process, but it’s what makes the lamp solid and ensures it’s made to last.

Crafted Wooden Bases by Charlie

Every lamp sits on a solid wooden base, handcrafted by Charlie, who has over 30 years of experience in fine woodworking and joinery.

Rather than using standard fittings, each base is made specifically for the lamp it supports. Charlie carefully selects the timber, often native Irish wood or exotic wood, paying close attention to grain and colour.

Each piece is then shaped and finished by hand in the workshop, creating a base that not only supports the lamp but enhances it.

This combination of glass and wood is central to what gives our lamps their balance and timeless feel.

One-Off Pieces, Not Factory Products

Unlike imitation lamps that are mass-produced in factories, every Eirlume stained glass lamp is a one-off piece.

Designed and handcrafted in our studio in Leitrim, Ireland, no two lamps are ever exactly the same. You’re not buying something made by a mould, you’re investing in a piece crafted by our hands and expertise with a genuine passion for the craft of stained glass.

More Than Lighting, Functioning Pieces of Art

We see our lamps as functioning pieces of art. Our lamps bring colour, atmosphere and are designed to be cherished for generations.

In Summary

Cheap “Tiffany-style” lamps and handcrafted stained glass lamps may look similar at first glance, but they are fundamentally very different. That difference matters.
Every stained glass lamp we create is thoughtfully designed and carefully made by hand, from the first sketch to the final solder line. We invest time, skill and care into each one and we hope that love for the craft is felt when our lamps become part of someone’s home.

If you’d like to commission a stained glass lamp get in touch hello@eirlumestudio.ie

We’re happy to remake any our stained glass lamps that are sold out. It will vary slightly so the lamp will be unique to you once completed.

We are currently working on a new range of stained glass lamps. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when the new range is available to buy on our website.