AN amateur antiques collector has asked the Haworth Art Gallery to look at a lamp he believes to be an early example of a Tiffany table lamp.

Anthony Goode, has been trying to delve into the history of the object, which he bought in Italy for £1,500, but has yet to get it authenticated by an expert.

In the New Year he plans to take the lamp to the gallery, which houses a world-famous collection of Tiffany glass, which were sent over by Accrington-born Joseph Briggs, who worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany in America.

Mr Goode, 60, from Birmingham, believes his find could be worth a small fortune if his suspicions about its origin are proved.

He said: "I have been doing some research into it since I bought it two years ago and at every step I find a bit more information.

"I need to find out where it has been. The person I bought it from in Italy had bought it at an antiques fair in Harrogate in 1983."

Jennifer Rennie, the curator of the Haworth Art Gallery, said she would have to see the lamp before she could confirm whether Mr Goode had a Tiffany lamp or not.

She said: "I have asked him to bring it to Accrington. The thing about Tiffany lamps is that there were an awful lot of fakes made, particularly in the 1970s."

She added that she may be able to get TV antiques expert Eric Knowles to look at it if Mr Goode brought it to the gallery.

Mr Goode would like to hear from anyone who could help him trace the history of the lamp. He can be contacted on 07742 513 701.