My mom always had a few old Victorian lampshades around the home I grew up in, and I've always remembered the elegant look they bestowed on a room.
I never thought they'd go well in my cramped apartment, but I was wrong - they look great! Here's a quick history of lamps and Victorian lampshades: In the 19th century, Queen Victoria ruled in Britain and all was well.
The prosperous times led to many innovations in leisurely comforts, as well as in the industrial realm, and this was fueled by the wealth brought in from Britain's many endeavors overseas.
There were already craftsmen who did nothing but make lampshades, but a new demand grew due to the culmination of several important events.
Early in the 19th century a Swiss scientist named Aime Argand revolutionized the glass industry by inventing what is called the glass chimney.
This product allowed a container to be placed over a naked flame that wouldn't explode from the glaring heat.
In addition, a Canadian scientist by the name of Abraham Gesner made a breakthrough when he discovered how to extort kerosene from petroleum.
Spurred by Gesner's discovery, a man named Michael Dietz took up the proverbial torch and invented the first kerosene lamps, which were sold to the public beginning in 1857 and soon replaced the previous lamps that were fueled by a blend of whale and canola oils - a compound that burned much more noxiously than kerosene.
Wick-lamps were in nearly every household in civilized society, and more businesses decided to make lampshades in order to capitalize on the growing demand.
Although the antiquity of Victorian lampshades can seem daunting, it's not hard to make lampshades for yourself or your friends.
In fact, they make great, surprising gifts around the holidays.
There are many products available to instruct you on how to begin, from fairly-priced comprehensive videos, to quick YouTube clips from people who just like to help.
The construction of Victorian lampshades hasn't changed much in the last couple centuries.
Underneath the classy exterior, a wire frame supports it all.
This frame is generally bent outwards in such a way as to allow light safe passage out of the bottom, while still dimming the light and keeping the fabrics away from too much heat.
Once the frame is properly posed, you'll need to fasten little cotton bundles to each wire that will be touching the next layers of cloth, so that there's a buffer between the metal and the nicer fabrics.
A layer of soft material is then placed over the frame and sewn to each piece of cotton, to further protect the top dressing from the inner parts of the lamp.
Victorian lampshades are known for their often flamboyant and yet quaint appearance, so if you decide to make lampshades for yourself, the outer layer, called the top dressing, is where you can let your personality show.
There's no question; Victorian lampshades are a perfect addition to any lamp!