Why Our Lamps Cost More
Recently, we came across several Tiffany-style lamps being sold online for prices ranging from €80 to €200.
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
Because they’re moulded in one piece, there’s:
No cutting
No grinding
No foiling
No soldering
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
Our lamps are finished with solid wooden bases, expertly made by Charlie, who has over 30 years of experience in fine woodwork.
Every base is made for its specific lamp. They’re solid and designed to work beautifully with the colour and feel of the glass.
This combination of glass and wood is central to what makes our lamps feel timeless and unique.
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.