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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?
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.
Oldcalifornia.com
Kerosene became more available around 1849 to the masses. This brought kerosene lamps into popularity.
with a brass base and glass chimney
Here is a drawing of a kerosene lamp.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why not draw your own Victorian lamp shade?
Here are some examples to get you started:
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
Now take another look at these elaborate lamp shades - all hand made! Makes me appreciate them even more.
Antique Art Nouveau; Etsy
These next two are examples of a popular style where there were two matching lamps.
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.
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.
Part of the Library of Congress collection
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.
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.
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
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