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How did Art Nouveau artists use stained glass in lampshades and light fixtures?

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The north rose window at Chartres Cathedral in France, featuring intricate stained glass with vibrant geometric and biblical designs in a large circular and five tall vertical panels. — stained glass The stained-glass rose window in the north transept of Chartres Cathedral, France.

Art Nouveau artists utilized stained glass as a decorative element to create objects such as lampshades and light fixtures, moving away from the imitative historicism of the 19th century toward a more modern aesthetic.1

Central to this development was Louis Comfort Tiffany, a leading figure of the movement who began experimenting with stained glass in 1875. Tiffany’s approach involved the creation of Favrile glass—an iridescent, freely shaped material that he often combined with bronzelike alloys and other metals to craft his iconic lamps and ornamental objects.2

The movement was defined by a preference for long, sinuous, and organic lines inspired by nature, such as flower stalks, vine tendrils, and insect wings. In the context of lighting, this meant that stained glass was not merely a functional covering but a medium for artistic expression, where the glass and metalwork were integrated to reflect the rhythmic, asymmetrical, and decorative qualities characteristic of the Art Nouveau style.31