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.
$1,417Sale Price|25% Off
H 72 in W 13 in D 13 in
Rare Vintage Brass Stiffel Mid Century Modern Floor Lamp 3-lite with Shade
By Stiffel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Brass Stiffel Floor Lamp with original Lampshade. Perfect working condition with three lights. 3 way switch to turn on one two or three light bulbs. Original lampshade. ...
Brass
$3,979
H 101.97 in W 25.99 in D 5.12 in
Extremly Rare Brass Tension Lamp from Florian Schulz, Model S 100
By Florian Schulz
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Extremely rare and high quality brass lamp, Model S 100, 1970s-1980s. The lamp has a beautiful patina and a few traces of use, everything in the ready to live condition. Ceili...
Brass
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 53.5 in W 21 in D 14 in
Mid-Century Mod Stiffel Double Cone Floor Lamp Patinated Brass Arched Star Base
By Stiffel
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, mid-century modern fabulous modern tall floor lamp by Stiffel. Unmarked. Very rare model four-star arched base. Adjustable double shade cone. Dimensions: 5...
Brass
$1,650Sale Price|40% Off
H 105 in Dm 18.5 in
Mid Century Brass Triple Light Floor to Ceiling Tension Pole Lamp
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Mid-century brass triple light floor-to-ceiling tension pole lamp with a heavy Googie style. This lamp features a unique tension pole lamp with an adjustable brass pole that is adjus...
Brass
$17,054
H 58.27 in W 20.08 in D 9.26 in
Mid-Century Modern Brass Floor Lamp in the style of Jacques Adnet Valenti Spain
By Jacques Adnet, Valenti
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Brass Floor Lamp in the style of Jacques Adnet for Valenti, Spain. Hollywood Regency Style. Rare mid-century floor lamp by Valenti. This design is often attributed...
Metal
1970s French Faux Bamboo Floor Lamp in Brass
Located in London, London
Brass floor lamp A 1970s faux bamboo floor lamp in brass, exuding elegance with its refined silhouette and warm golden tones. The slender column, designed to mimic bamboo segments, ...
Brass
Mid-Century Adjustable Brass Floor Lamp by Laurel
Located in Water Mill, NY
Laurel adjustable and rotating brass floor lamp with original finial 67" H to top of finialn 43.5 H closed. 2.5" from shade to top of finial.
Brass, Metal
Mid-Century Modern Tripod Brass Floor Lamp, 1950s Italy
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Executed in brass and glass. The lamp need 2 x E27 / E26 Edison screw fit bulb, is wired, in working condition and runs both on 110 / 230 volt. Our lamps are checked, cleaned and ar...
Metal, Brass
Original Bronze 'Rope' Floor Lamp, Made to Order
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Wyeth original spare, sinuous floor lamp made from a continuous coil of thinly gauged bronze tubing in a patinated finish. Shade shown for sample only / not included. Available in ...
Bronze
Italian 1970's Brass Counterbalance Diabolo Floor Lamp
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
An Italian floor lamp combining warm patinated brass with a bold red diabolo shade. The slender stem rises at an angle from an unusual base, where a brass sphere is paired with an ex...
Brass
Swedish Art Deco Floor Lamp with Brass Figure, Teak & Brass – Ystad-Metall, 1940
By Ystad-Metall
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exceptionally elegant Swedish Art Deco floor lamp produced during the 1940s and attributed to Ystad-Metall, exemplifying the refined craftsmanship and restrained luxury that defin...
Brass
Swedish Mid-Century Brass Three-Arm Pendant Light, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A striking Swedish Mid-Century Modern three-light pendant from the 1950s, featuring an elegant solid brass frame with beautifully balanced curved arms and its highly desirable origin...
Brass
Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors Swedish Mid-Century Textured Glass Floor Lamp, 1960s
By Carl Fagerlund, Orrefors
Located in Stockholm, SE
Exceptional Swedish mid-century floor lamp designed by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors in the 1960s. The sculptural column is composed of multiple vertically stacked sections of clear an...
Art Glass
Markslöjd Floor Lamp with Pink Shade and Adjustable Gooseneck - Sweden 1970's
By Markslöjd
Located in Stockholm, SE
A charming 1970s floor lamp by renowned Swedish lighting brand Markslöjd. This vintage piece features a flexible gooseneck stem clad in orange faux leather or vinyl, allowing for ver...
Brass
Swedish Mid-Century Modern Brass and Teak Five-Light Chandelier, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Striking Swedish pendant lamp dating to the 1960s, featuring a sculptural five-arm brass frame, warm teak wood detailing and five original textured, faceted glass shades. The elegant...
Brass
Swedish Designer Brass Six-Light Chandelier with Curved Arms, 1950's
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful Swedish brass chandelier from the 1950s, featuring six gracefully curved arms, a polished brass finish, and six elegant white fabric lampshades. Combining classic Scandin...
Brass
