Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Paul S. on March 18, 2011, 08:46:00 PM
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bought this as I thought it was attractive (nothing so sensible as actually using it you understand) - and after my recent faux pas with this type of glass, yes, I do now know that it is definitely 'opalescent' :). It had three hanging wires attached to the large opening end (now removed) - so assume it did hang from a ceiling at some time, with the smaller opening facing downward. Gorgeous pink, you could almost eat it............ but why the small opening - might a 'pull' cord have hung from this - most shades from the period 1920 - 1950 didn't have this 'lower' opening - and the 'on/off' was controlled by a wall switch, with the shade being fully enclosed (i.e. proper bowl shapes) - or am I wrong on this point. I can almost picture a Continental parlour maybe, with this piece throwing a delicate shade of light across Madam's guests. ;)
Anyone like to have a stab at a date of manufacture - and is my assumption of French a possibility, or what do people think??
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Hi Paul :hi:, isn't the smaller hole where it was supposed to hang from the light fitting, and the larger hole hung down for the light to shine through? How was the wire you removed attached? Did you photograph it before you removed the wire?
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the smaller hole where it was supposed to hang from...
unless it's an uplighter of course.
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in fact the wires that I removed were attached around the larger opening, and no, I didn't take a picture before removing. :pb: Coupled with the knowledge that a very common bowl shape of interior domestic light 'shade' - for much of the period I mentioned - was similar but without the smaller opening - has now confused me. It is not uncommon at boot sales and often at antiques fairs, to see these 'bowl shaped shades' - a sort of left over from the Deco period - from whence I suspect they originated (they often have a 'spatter' type of colour decroration) - although the ones I see, don't have this smaller hole. But, of course, this one may have been converted to hanging the wrong way up by someone who mis-appropriated its use. Ivo may well be correct, and it might have originally been used as an uplighter, on a table lamp, for example.
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i was thinking of gas light, really. :t:
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sorry, I had overlooked thinking about the source of power - and you are probably correct with the reference to gas light. Am I right in thinking that with gas lighting prior to about 1920, there was often a type of 'chain pull' that hung from the shade, and was used to adjust the brightness - or is that something else I have in mind??
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Hi Paul :hi: My Grandmother had lots of the bowl type art Deco glass lampshades you refer to, and they had holes in the rim to accommodate the chains that suspended them from the light fitting. However, I think this one was probably, as you suggest, converted to be used in the same way.
It looks so pretty and shell like....I think Ivo's idea of a possible shade for gas light is very interesting and well worthy of following up.
There was a small chain, usually with a fancy 'pull' to adjust the flow of gas to the mantle (the bit that glowed) so that the level of light could be controlled.
Now I am reaping the benefits of being an 'oldie' because I remember these!!!
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Paul, please can you measure the diameter of the small hole, as John has looked at your picture and thinks it may be a standard electric light shade, albeit very pretty.
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diameter of small hole is 36mm - and thickness of glass at that point is almost 10mm!! Noticeable that the flange/collar/rim (whatever), on the larger opening, is actually flared/everted - as tho designed specifically to prevent anything tied around it, from slipping off. :)
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We (Yes, both John and I, not the 'Royal we') think it is a normal pendant lampshade....most of these have an outward flared rim which deflects the light into the room and softens or diffuses the light edge.
There would probably need to be a metal flange to protect the glass rim at the small hole side, and reduce the size of the hole to acommodate a normal light fitting.
BTW, I know nothing about lighting..... :usd:
Alternatively, if, as Ivo suggests, it is an uplighter, then the size of the hole and the thickness of the glass are fine.
But it could still be for a Madame's room Paul, :sun:
I still think it is very pretty and could well be French, there are a couple of similar ones on French eBay at the moment. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190510885680&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I meant to add, that I owe you a thank you, beause in looking through all the pages of glass lampshades on eBay for you, I found a matching shade for our landing light....a glass 1970's really funky one that will match the one in the hall.....hehe!! I have to have glass lampshades because I have asthma, and they don't collect the dust, and are easily washed.....I have been looking for a matching one for yonks!!
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glad my thread prompted a successful find of a matching glass shade rosie, although sorry to hear you have an asthma problem. Funny expression isn't it, this..... 'landing light' - what the $**? are we implying.............that we get 747's dropping in for tea. But must stop this banter, or I'll be kicked off the board. :)
Coincidentally, started watching the Isherwood thingy on the box last evening and am sure that one of the light shades in Berlin was just like the one in your ebay link - but is it 'opaline' (as the seller states), or just an example of spatter glass?? Anyway turned off, as couldn't stand all these blokes kissing each other.
As mentioned earlier, certainly in my childhood, the fashion was to have a glass bowl as the main ceiling shade (hanging on three chain like supports), and these were often in some sort of colourful spatter pattern - so guess I can always go out and buy a length of discreet brass chain, and hang this one in my front room, and remenisce about the '50's. Should give a warm 'sunset' glow when the electric light is turned on.
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It's a lovely shade Paul, and I think you must persue the search.
On the matter of glass shades in the Deco syle, I always remember that my Grandmother's were full of dead insects when she took them down to clean....that won't be a problem with yours....they will all fall out on top of you!
Must fly, got to see an executive jet safely onto the landing! :wsh:
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If you are still there Paul.....you do have a habit of dashing off..............
maybe, yours was like this one and is missing the metal bits....have a look.....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Art-Deco-Glass-Lampshade-Ceiling-Hanging-Special-/110654524223?pt=UK_Antiques_AntiqueFurniture_SM&hash=item19c3860b3f
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I sense that this coffee coloured shade is more 'deco', whereas I feel mine is more nouveau - I cud be well wrong, but think that the '20's style was more for opaque coloured glass rather than opalescent (and onyx) - but would like to think that this one is much more like mine as regards the price (£95 buy it now) :)
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Paul, I meant the way it was hung up and the reason for the small hole in the bottom of the bowl....not necessarily the era or the colour!! Tut!