vintage glass shades (2024)

FAQs

How can you tell if a lamp shade is vintage? ›

Check For Makers' Marks

As with many types of antiques, vintage lamps are likely to have a date stamp or maker's mark somewhere. Typically, these marks are on the base of the lamp, but sometimes there are also stickers on the light fixing itself that will include a name or date or manufacturer.

They have an attractive, elegant appearance that is truly timeless. Glass shades come in a range of styles, shapes and sizes to suit every room in your home. Some glass shades are even finished with patterns and decorations. Glass is the perfect material for light shades as it allows light to pass through it.

Glass shades were very popular when kerosene or gas lights were being used from the late 18th through the early 20th century. Hand blown were among some of the most popular.

Use a soft-bristled brush or a clean, dry paintbrush to gently dust off the surface of the lampshade. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as this may damage the delicate paper material.

If you gently tap the shade with a fork, you can feel the glass tone better. You can tell that a lamp shade is real glass by the depth and brilliance of color, especially when lit. The weight of plastic is also quite lighter than a glass shade.

The glass in the lampshades is put together with the copper-foil technique instead of leaded, the classic technique for stained-glass windows. Tiffany lamps are considered part of the Art Nouveau movement. Considerable numbers of designs were produced from 1893 onwards.

The green-tinted light was supposed to make reading and writing easier for people who spent long hours doing those things. Some sources point to the green visors, or eyeshades, that accountants once wore as proof of this.

Sturdier shades made from brass and metal may benefit from cleaning with a damp cloth with soapy water. Non-fabric shades that have accumulated grease in the kitchen can often be cleaned with a damp cloth with a bit of white vinegar.

Lamps made of glass can be cleaned with ammonia-free cleaners or polishes. Lamps made of stone or painted material can be cleaned with a wax or furniture polish that features a lemon-oil base. Lamps made of metal should be cleaned with a transparent wax polish or warm, soapy water. Allow the lamp to dry thoroughly.

The glass shades should come clean with your normal dishwashing detergent, but a rinse aid might help non-frosted fixtures sparkle, too. Forte also recommends removing the shades before the drying cycle begins, and towel drying instead — the heat from the dishwasher could wreck them.

How old does a lamp have to be to be considered antique? ›

Antiques are items which must be at least 100 years old. That means, as of the date of this posting, an antique item was made on or before April of 1918.

Know The Look

Like midcentury architecture, furniture and textiles, the lamps from this period have geometric shapes, simple lines and a space-age feel. Look for shapes such as globes, hourglasses and rings to kickstart your search.

Look for heavy glass, or painted glass (Tiffany shades have unique identifiable patterns), and solid metal (like brass or bronze) or wood for the base. These are all usually good indicators of an old lamp.

Tracing its modern roots to the 17th Century, lampshades began as pragmatic coverings often made simple materials such as parchment, glass, or metal, used for the diffusion of flickering candle or oil lamp light.