Victorian Lamps History

Welcome 

By Foter

Have you seen some of those fabulous Victorian fancy lamps? I think they are so beautiful. I love all the embellishments and variety of textures and shapes.

I started wondering - what is the history of them?

Found on Pinterest 

Let’s go back a bit, before the Victorian era, to get some background info.

Lighting in the early 1800’s was pretty much candlelight. People would craft lampshades to soften the flickering candlelight. These were made out of parchment, animal skin and paper. Later shades were crafted from glass and metal. Later still the oil lamp became an alternate to candles.

Hook arm sconce oil lamp, 1848 Gold Rush period

Oldcalifornia.com

Kerosene became more available around 1849 to the masses. This brought kerosene lamps into popularity.

Reproduction of an antique oil reservoir lamp 

with a brass base and glass chimney

Here is a drawing of a kerosene lamp.

Coloring page paradise 

Shades to diffuse the harsh lighting started to reflect the prosperity of the Victorian era (1837-1901). Britain was expanding their territories and becoming more wealthy. The lamp shades reflected this, by becoming more decorative. Glass shades with intricate designs, stained glass and opalescent and frosted glass were popular.

2-arm gas lighting with etched glass globes

rejuvenation.com

The 1840’s brought gas lighting to the cities.

The problem with gas however was the inconsistent quality of the gas. Gas lighting was known as ‘dirty and dangerous’. It blackened walls, killed houseplants and caused headaches. So the Victorians made the fixtures elaborate and luxurious. Kind of like if you dress up a pig you might not notice it is a pig. (No offense meant to the actual pig population).

1851 Campbell House museum; St. Louis, MO

How many different kinds of light sources can you find?

Elaborate chandeliers and wall sconces made from crystal and glass were all the rage. Tiffany stunned the world with stained glass like no one had ever seen before. He relied heavily on the Art Nouveau styles of nature and flowing lines. 

Coloring page of Tiffany style lamp.

Curt’s Journey, Pinterest

Fashionable homes and hotels had gas lighting with shades made with tassels, lace and fine fabrics. But they still relied heavily on candlelight.

Baroque design elements
              

In 1859 the House of Parliament in England was fitted for gas lights. That turned the tide of popularity! Fashionable and wealthy homes had to have gas lighting available to them. One problem however - the light fixtures were suspended from the ceiling, with the globes facing upward. The light didn’t go down, where the people needed it. (See photo above). Finally in 1897 a gas mantle was created that allowed the light to point downward. It only took 37 years…

Blue Jasperware base with hand stitched shade and hand strung crystals

Yes, but what about those elaborate lamp shades?

Mid-19th century was a profitable time for Britain. They were acquiring many territories, and the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Manufacturing was booming, and the political arena was stable. People had some extra money to spend, and more people were classified in the middle area of income rather than the wealthy vs the poor.

Ocean Springs mercantile

      Queen Victoria’s decorating style was lush with over-the-top knick-knacks, rich woods like mahogany, cherry and teak and fabrics like velvet, silk, satin and brocade. The more crowded, the better! Embellishments? Can’t have too much!

J.G. Gottfredsen House, Wisconsin, USA; 1880-1914

Britain’s explorations made foreign design very popular. There were ‘revivals’ of Egyptian, Arabic, Gothic and Asian styles all fighting for dominance. People wanted to show off their status and wealth. One way of doing this was how you decorated your home. (Another was how you dressed).

The end of the 19th century also brought a revival of Louis XV excessive opulence. Wealthy people looked to status symbols to showcase their success. What better way than with elaborate decorating plans for home. 

Elegance Lamps; Pinterest

Around 1879 Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan (with inventions and ideas from a few others) perfected the incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison created a practical bulb that could be used efficiently and manufactured easier than previous attempts.

Joseph Wilson Swan, 1878

Lightology; Pinterest.  

Early fixtures had the ornate look of Victorian gas lamps. However, that novelty wore off fairly soon, and all the rage became high-end shades of silk, lace and beadwork to soften the harsh glare of these new bulbs.

Example of style, 1920’s

Those Victorians! Luxury was the standard everyone strived for. Shades were made from heavier fabrics like brocade and velvet and decorated with heavy fringe, antique lace, and ruffles. Lots of fringe and ruffles.

Glenview Mansion, Drawing Room, 1886

Why not draw your own Victorian lamp shade?

Here are some examples to get you started:

Victorian satin and brocade shade with a golden cherub base

Victoria Shifke’s Art; Pinterest

Each lampshade was hand stitched to a wire frame. No glue was used, to maintain the highest quality. Any crystals were hand strung also. All the multi-layers of fabric and lace were all hand sewn.

Antique lamp; German

Sandab shade, vintageshades.co

Now take another look at these elaborate lamp shades - all hand made! Makes me appreciate them even more.

Antique Art Nouveau; Etsy 

Bridge lampshade, vintageshades.com

These next two are examples of a popular style where there were two matching lamps.

Gilt ewer pair of lamps, 1870-1900; 1stdibs.com

1stdibs.com

Around 1800 William Morris started an Arts & Crafts movement. This was before the Victorian Era of 1837-1901, of course. Its popularity was slow in coming, but around 1890 mainstream opinions were moving to this new style. W.A.S. Benson popularized this minimalist look. Rich decorations (and plenty of them) were replaced with plain, natural materials. There was restraint in the quantity of knick-knacks, and certainly the multiple embellishments were reduced quite a lot.

Pamono, Pinterest

While it would take another 20 years or so to lose popularity, the fabulous excesses of the Victorian Age was on its’ way out. Beautiful and elaborate silk lampshades were replaced with embossed brass and cranberry glass shades.

President Taft parlor, 1905; credit: Harris & Ewing

Part of the Library of Congress collection

1920 crochet shade cover

Because these lampshades were hand made without products like glue that can deteriorate fabric, you can still find Victorian silk lampshades in good condition in antique stores. There are entire companies devoted to only finding, restoring and selling these shades.

Elegance lamps, Crystal Hayes

Who knows? Maybe you have a spot in your home that needs a spot of elegance!

Or perhaps you would like to make one of your own? I found many tutorials on Pinterest that teach you how to make your own Victorian Lampshade.

Found on Pinterest

I’m keeping my eye out looking for real life examples of these beautiful creations. If I find any, I will take photos and share with you. I would love to see what you find also!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few websites I visited while preparing this blog, in no particular order:

antiquesboutique.com

Architecturaldigest.com

vintageshades.co

Rejuvenation.com

University of Wisconsin-Madison libraries

theglampad.com

Wikipedia

theVictorianEmporium.com

Pinterest

1stdibs.com

buildingconservation.com

Elegance Lamps

Native American Choctaw Nation

 HALITO

(Hah-lih -toh)

[‘hello’ in Choctaw language]

Traditional Choctaw dance dress

The Choctaw people of North America have a history dating back to the 16th century.

Actually, their oral traditions are much older than that. As noted in written history of invaders, the Choctaw are distinctive in song, dance, dress, beadwork, pottery, basketry and stickball. This holds true today. The Choctaw language is a living language. That means that there are people right now speaking it, and not because they have to in a school room. (Think Latin).

Choctaw and Chickasaw languages  are very closely related, with even creation stories having them both come from the same ancestors. This Muskogean language group also includes Creek, Seminole and Natchez people groups.

Choctaw creation story as explored by Marvel’s Echo

When conflicts among the community needed to be resolved, a non-lethal game of stickball was played! There could be anywhere from 20 - 300 players. Wish more people resolved conflict that way, today.

‘Eagle Dance, Choctaw’; artist George Catlin (1845-1848)

Early Choctaw ancestors believed in a benevolent spirit, and a malevolent spirit. Think ‘good guy’ versus ‘bad guy’. They regarded the sun as a deity with the power of life and death. They used mounds of dirt/grass as part of their religious ceremonies.

Examples of Choctaw basketry 

Choctaw communities were hunters and farmers. They planted crops together, such as corn, beans and pumpkins; and hunted for fish, deer and bear. Their diet included nuts and wild fruits. Everyone helped, and everyone shared in the harvests.

They built thatch roof homes with mud plaster walls. There were summer homes and corn houses that were oblong or square in shape. Then the winter homes were circular, known as ‘hot houses’.

Typical Choctaw round home

Choctaw were known to be fierce warriors, and skilled traders with other tribes. They had a reputation as being very sports-oriented (stickball). They located in Southeastern woodlands of what is known today as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Of course back then there were no states or boundaries like we have today. They were not nomadic, and stayed with their communities and crops.

Choctaw 1910

By the 1700’s there were enough ‘strangers’ here that they found it prudent to ally with the French. However by 1795 Spain was in control of their ancestral lands, and the Spanish ceded the land over to the Americans. Most Choctaw had already by then sided with the Americans during the American Revolution and then in the War of 1812, so it shouldn’t have been a big change.

President Andrew Jackson

7th USA President; 1829 - 1837

Perhaps not, but soon Andrew Jackson would be voted in as America’s seventh president, and General Jackson had very strong opinions on where Indians belonged in the USA. White immigrants that wanted to settle on tribal lands had the highest priority. The Indians would have to move, whether they wanted to or not.

Greenwood LeFlore, elected Choctaw Chief

In 1830 the Choctaw Nation signed a treaty with the United States of America called the “Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek”. They ceded their traditional lands in Mississippi over in exchange for new land in the West.

Chief Mushalatubbee (1765-1838) painted by George Catlin 1834

Some Choctaw chose to stay in Mississippi instead of traveling west. Chief Mushalatubbee was elected to preside over the Choctaw moving to new lands.

The Choctaw refer to this event as

‘The Trail of Tears and Death’

Before the forced removal of Choctaw people there were around 15,000 - 17,000 tribal members.

After The Trail of Tears and Death anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 had died along the way. It is estimated at a minimum 25% - 35% of the tribe perished. Many died from malnutrition, starvation, exposure and disease. The US government couldn’t wait for indigenous peoples to move, and forced the removal during brutal winter conditions. There was also a cholera epidemic that took many lives along the way.

Unknown artist

These death marches took place over 3 years’ time. Around 2,000 - 5,000 Choctaw remained in the Mississippi area. (The estimated numbers are wildly different on the internet!). These later formed The Mississippi Band of Choctaws and they became the first major non-European ethnic group to be recognized as US citizens.

The (Chief)Greenwood LeFlore plantation prospered with many acres of land, 400 slaves, and a fabulous mansion built in the French style called ‘Malmaison’. It’s interior was almost exclusively imported from France with rich woods, furniture and silver.

It was quite a sightseeing destination until it burnt to the ground in 1942.

Malmaison, Mississippi

The Choctaw had been considered 1 of 5 ‘civilized’ tribes by the invading Europeans. The Choctaw were friendly, adopted Christianity, had a centralized government, literacy and written constitutions. They were open to intermarriage with white settlers. The other ‘civilized’ tribes were Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole and Creole. 

Oklahoma Choctaw men

By 1831 there were about 6,000 Choctaws that arrived in what was known as ‘Indian Territory’.

After suffering so much death, starvation and loss of livelihoods, the Choctaw remained a compassionate people. In 1847 they heard about the severe potato famine in the distant country of Ireland. Called The Great Potato Famine of Ireland millions died from starvation and disease. Ireland lost over 50% of its population in some areas. There were mass numbers of Irish migrating out of Ireland and becoming refugees.

The Choctaw tribe collected what little money they had - at the time it was $170.00 - and sent it to Ireland for their relief.

In today’s money that would be several thousand $, which is an absolutely astounding amount of money.

Unknown artist; Choctaw collecting money for Ireland

Even with all the trials and tribulations the Choctaw had gone through, they still wanted to fight for the United States during the Civil War of 1861-1865. Located primarily in Southern states it was natural for them to fight on the Confederate side.

Choctaw family

Unfortunately the general population, including tribal members, participated in legal conflicts, racism, harassment and intimidation.

By 1930 there were only 1,665 Choctaw left in Mississippi.

As with any group of people, a lot happened to the Choctaw between then and now. Since I have promised you to not write any chapter books here, let’s try to condense history.

There has been a revival of traditional arts such as basket weaving and pottery.

Several tribal members have been recognized for their military service and outstanding bravery.

In World War I Joseph Oklahombi (Choctaw for ‘man-killer’) is recognized as the most decorated soldier from Oklahoma. Serving in the 36th Infantry Division he led 23 soldiers in capturing 171 German prisoners in 1918. He was also a Code Talker, using his native language as an unbreakable secret code for the Allies. (Choctaw) Tobias Frazer was another Code Talker during the Wars.

There were several Code Talkers that helped the Allies win the War:

There are other ‘famous’ Choctaw that have contributed to this nation, such as Norma Howard, a painter of traditional Choctaw life; and George Quincy, a composer, conductor and music educator.

It has been said that several current celebrities have Choctaw blood in them, although I was not able to verify these claims. I present them as a matter of possible interest:

Jessica Biel

Johnny Mathis

Ian Somerholder

Farah Fawcett

Terri Hatcher

Billy Bob Thornton

Wes Studi

In 2017 Ireland established a monument called

‘Kindred Spirits’

in Middleton, County Cork, as a commemorative to the Choctaw for their sacrificial donation of $ during the Great Famine. The Irish president Mary Robinson renewed a thankful recognition on 1996, prior to this.

In 2018 the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar established a scholarship fund for Choctaw students to study in Ireland.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and Choctaw Chief Gary Batton

In 2020 a deadly virus - Covid-19 - became rampant, particularly among the Navajo (Dine’) and Hopi Native American tribes in the USA. Ireland decided to ‘pay it forward’ as a symbol of thanks to the Choctaw, and send monetary relief to the Navajo and Hopi peoples.

As Chief Gary Batton is quoted “sharing our cultures makes the world smaller.”

That’s it for today. Thank you for reading about an USA native tribe and its history. You can also search for ‘Pawnee” for info about another tribe.

I find US history both fascinating and tragic, as any country’s history has positive and negative. I think it is important to know the triumphs, but also the mistakes that have been made. With knowledge of the past, may we not repeat those mistakes ever again.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few of the sites I visited while researching, in no particular order:

misspreservation.com

Choctaw.org

Wikipedia

Pinterest

The Oklahoman

Choctawnation.com

NativeCelebs

WikiMedia 

History Hustle

SmithsonianMag.com