subject: Vintage Glass Shade Craftsmanship And The Tiffany Shade [print this page] The Tiffany style antique glass lamp shades are famous throughout the world for their elegance and beauty. Most people do not know that the process for making a lamp is arduous, and therefore restoration work also is highly demanding in time, effort and skill.
The casual observer sees that the lamp is made up of small panels of stained glass that seem to be pieced together. In fact, there is nothing else holding the pieces of glass together except for bits of glue and solder. There is no rigid frame to provide support. Instead all of it is like a jigsaw puzzle that falls apart under time and stress.
Tiffany used a mold during the construction phase of the lamp. The mold had the shape of the shade, and was used to hold the pieces of glass. Once all the glass was in position, a solder was used to join all the pieces together. A restorer, in the most extreme cases, has to disassemble the entire lamp by tearing apart the glass, cleaning it, and then reassembling it. He or she must also create a new mold to mimic the shape of the lamp.
Tiffany shades share a history with the well-regarded jewelry retailer that is familiar around the globe. The designer, Louis Comfort Tiffany, was a man of the early 20th century, forging novel art and improving the industry of interior decorating. Tiffany was an owner of his own business. He used his position to innovate prolifically, aided by classical techniques in stained glass and translating them into new media. The Tiffany lamp shades are made up of panes of stained glass framed in metal, the construction of which mirrors church windows. When lit, they became brilliant scenes drawn from natural scenes such as animals, insects and landscapes.
Torchiere glass lamp shades are often used for brightening up parts of the home with gentle lighting. The term torchiere is synonymous with standing lamp. There are a number of shade shapes for torchieres, but perhaps one of the most popular is the cone lamp shade. Torchiere shades come in a number of colors and sizes. Get the measurements of the diameter on wide side for telling the retailer and also on the lower side where the lamp fitter connects to the shade.
Glass lamp shades can be found in a plethora of shapes and sizes. The shapes are given descriptive names, such as hurricane glass shades and gas lamp shades. The hurricane shade is characterized by a curvy pear shape that bulges in the waist and afterwards getting narrow into a pinched-off neck. Simply by its vase-like shape it is a highly stylish piece of lighting. One other fascinating shade is the traditional Victorian shade that saw itself popularized in the age of Queen Victoria. The period watched over the coming-to-age of gas lighting and the consequent increase in both number and artistic styles.
