lampshade question

[plasticpigeon]

Hello, does anyone here know what type of lampshade would have been used on the earliest electric lights please. I'm interested to know what would have been used as a shade on a single bulb hanging from a flex rather than fancy chandelier or something that looks like an electrified gas lamp, which I know existed in the Victorian era. I'm not sure what era people started hanging single bulbs on the end of a flex, but I have some nice old ceramic ceiling roses that look pretty old which would have been used for that purpose I'm sure. I would like to use them upstairs and try and keep the overall look quite simple and humble but also somewhat period. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Lime]

Happy New Year everyone.


Like so many things in the past, the innovation of the electric light was deeply influenced by the gas lighting of the period.
Glass would have been the shade of choice, not just because the gas lights used glass but also because early electric lamps gave out a lot of infra red and would burn a fabric shade.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Sorry, how rude of me, happy new year to you all. Thanks Lime, I shall start looking for glass shades. This place seems to have a lot of nice stuff.

http://www.johnmoncrieff.co.uk/shop-2/index.php

 

[masochists-r-us]

I prefer the softer look of fabric shades and like you have gone for simple hanging flexes in the bedrooms. I went for the Jim Lawrence ones in antique brass with a twisted flex. Not being particularly budget conscious nor a regular shopper at Homebase, I was surprised to find their small square and round knife pleat shades in beige. They look retro and fit perfectly in my oak beamed cottage bedrooms. Best of all they only cost £9.99. Another option to consider perhaps.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Lighting is so difficult and so potentially expensive to get right. Thanks for posting the link plastic pigeon as we've two hanging flexes with bare bulbs in our porch, I've struggled to know what to put there as it's only 6 foot something in height so whatever hangs there must be on the very dainty side of small.

For something a bit more statementy, these are jolly and can be made up in any colour combination.

http://www.lampshades.uk.com/index.php

And I must post pics of the pretty handmade lampshades that at last came from France, they took three months to make and the design seems to be hand painted on.

Ultimately you have to pick what you like and can live with!

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm sure if Joce finds lighting decisions difficult, then most people will!!!