Victorian lampshades add a pretty, romantic touch to the decor. Electricity was introduced at the end of the 19th century. According to Victoriana Magazine, online, people of the Victorian era thought that electricity was a fad. The strong electric lights cast shadows that were unattractive and unflattering. To soften to harsh lighting, a craze for decorative lamp shades began. Lampshades were hand designed or purchased from one of the companies that made lampshades out of art glass, such as Handel Lamp, Pairpoint Lamps or Tiffany.
Victorian lampshades today stand out for their color and design. Instead of the rather plain shades of the modern era, Victorian lampshades stand out of works of art on their own, adding color and beauty to the decor.
Reproductions of many of the Victorian styles can be found in specialty shops and department stores.
Following is a brief overview of the popular styles of Victorian lampshades.
Candle Shades
Often Victorian ladies made decorative lampshades as a pastime, or hobby, in the days when television was non existent and delicate had work was valued.Many of the lamps were on what looked like a straight stick, or candle shape. Candle shades covered the light bulb at the top of the stick. Candle shades were made of silk or paper, fitted of a frams of filigree silver. The material was stretched over the frame in the shape of a bell or upside down flower. Oftentimes the material was ornamented with hand painted designs, such as roses or other flowers. These lampshades could be quite ornate, with trim of glittering jewels, lovely laces, artificial flowers or clusters of ribbon. Women who entertained often kept several designs on hand so they could change the look of the decor anytime.
Handel Lamp
Handel was a Connecticut Company that specialized in high quality art glass lamp shades. Handel’s reverse painting on glass lamp shades required intricate work by artisans, who combined skills in watercolor painting techniques while considering how the light would play through glass. The result was a three dimensional effects. Handel lampshades often reflected nature scenes.
Pairpoint Lamps
Pairpoint was a Massachusetts company that produced fine glass lampshades that were revere painted with scenes of land or seascapes. The lamps were called puffy lamps because the glass panels were blown out to make a puffed shape. Pairpoint also made cut glass lamps.
Tiffany Lamps
Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Charles Tiffany of the prestigious jewelry store in New York. Louis Tiffany was an artist and painter who was praised for his watercolors. As a young man, Tiffany dedicated his life to the pursuit of beauty. He founded his own firm in 1885 and created a new glass making technique that combined a variety of colors in opalescent glass to create a colorful, vibrant, multidimensional effect. The stained glass eventually came in over 5,000 different colors and textures.
Victorian lampshades are a quick and easy way to add a Victorian touch to the decor.
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