Glass art is a wide range of items. Most of the glass art we see in our day-to-day lives comes from vases or stained windows. But for collectors, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Diving deep into the most valuable glass art, there is so much more to look at. From lamp shades from well-known company Tiffany Studios to artists like Rene Lalique, these valuable glass art pieces are stunning against the light and as accessories.
5. Tiffany Studios Flame Table Lamp, $355,600
When it comes to glass artwork, Tiffany Studios is quite recognizable. Louis Comfort Tiffany created his studio to work with glass specifically, and shouldn’t be confused with his father, Charles Tiffany, who is a renowned jewelry house, Tiffany & Company. The studio works specifically with lamps and stained glass windows.
The company worked with several objects from 1878 to 1933, creating various glass art projects, with the one above as one of the examples. While lamps are supposedly home decor, the way Tiffany creates their lamps, it can be considered art just the same. This rare table lamp is a globe of various stained glass colors from bright reds to mellow blues, showing the the many colors of a flame. The lamp was created around 1905 and has a bronze sturdy base for your office space. Due to its rarity, it sold at Sotheby’s for a whopping $355,000.
Related: Most Wanted Rare Antique Glass Collectors Are Looking For
4. Rene Lalique Art Nouveau Glass Brooch, $566,500
Similar to the office lamp above, a brooch is usually an accessory worn, but when it comes to this glass art creation, it has to be mentioned. Sold at Sotheby’s for a grand $566,000, this art nouveau glass, enamel, and pearl brooch was designed by Rene Lalique. Lalique was a French jeweler, medallist, and glass designer known for his glass art, perfume bottles, vases, jewelry, and hood ornaments.
He often worked as a freelance artists, working under prestigious companies such as Cartier, Boucheron, and more. His brooch was made around 1910 and is designed with blue-green glass with Medusa’s face in the middle. Around the glass, there are textured and polished 18-carat gold serpents surrounding it, decorated with blue and green enamel. A baroque pearl is suspended underneath and is all mounted in 18-carat gold. It’s truly a beautiful accessory for any outfit.
Also Read: Most Expensive Basquiat Paintings Ever Sold
3. Thomas Stearns La Sentinella di Venezia, $737,000
Similar to Rene Lalique and Tiffany Studios, Thomas Stearns is known for his collection of prestigious blown glassware and glass art. He graduated from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1959 and went to Italy to produce amazing creations. One such creation is his Murano glass artwork that sold for a staggering $737,000 through Wright. The original estimate believed it would reach only $500,000, however, it overshot that price.
The piece is called La Sentinella di Venezia, and was finished in 1962. This was not only his last work that he created, but a three-part piece where he explored his feelings on his time in Venice. Here is another piece that collabs with the one above that sold through Christie’s for only $102,000.
Check Out: Rare Sea Glass You’d Be Lucky to Find
2. Mamluk Gilded and Enamelled Glass Bowl, $952,000
Something as stunning as this bowl has to be considered glass art. The gilded and enameled-footed glass bowl is from the 14th century and is worth over $950,000. The bowl was sold through Sotheby’s with a description of a deep rounded form on a splayed uncruved foot.
The bowl is made of thick glass with a brown tinge and is decorated with blue roundels and animals, like peacocks and lions. The decoration is as intricate as the details of the bowl, and with something dating back thousands of years ago, it’s a worthwhile purchase for those who want to collect some of the most valuable glass art.
Read More: Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold
1. Tiffany Studios Mosiac Lotus Lamp, $2.8 Million
The true beauty of the show, however, is this glass art lamp by none other than Tiffany Studios themselves. At a breathtaking value of over $2.8 million, this lamp is the most valuable glass art piece in the world. The lamp was sold through Christie’s and features a leaded glass mosaic of a lotus, with the lightbulb holders decorated as flowers as well. The bass is made of bronze.
The lamp shade is in an umbrella shape, with the stems jutting out from the top center, flowing downwards around the lamp. It’s a beautiful, intricate design that is from the 1900-19010s. Out of all the glass art, this is truly a bright, beautiful piece that collectors would fight to get ahold of.
