Shades for gas and electric fixtures are a necessity in almost every house, and by the exercise of a little inventiveness they may be a part of its ornament as well. In the suggestions and hints that follow the aim has been to create from inexpensive material really artistic results. It all depends upon the care and ability with which the young craftsman goes to work.
A Simple Gas-shade
Fig. 1 is a simple shade intended for a bracket gas-burner; in shape and size it fits the rim that holds the ordinary glass globe.
From covered hat-wire four or five forms are constructed like the pattern, Fig. 1 A. They should be of such width at the bottom that when attached together and bent in a circle they will fit in the rim that is on the fixture. Each form is then covered with China silk of some light, pretty shade, and bent over, as shown in the drawing. Some spangles are sewed to the outer surface to form the design, or pattern, and the fine lines are worked out with silk or laid on with gold thread. Between each section some glass beads are strung, and the other details may be gathered from the drawing.
Another Gas-shade
In Fig. 2 another idea is shown for a gas-shade. Six frames of wire are made, as shown at Fig. 2 A, and the ornament is formed of wire, and held in place by means of very fine wire wound round the unions. When the six sides have been made they are bound together so as to form a hexagon (Fig. 2 B), and with stout wires this frame is made fast to a rim, inside of which a glass shade may rest, if desired.
The inside of this frame is lined with light silk, and to the lower edge a glass-bead fringe three or four inches long is made fast, as shown in the drawing.
A Metal Shade
In Fig. 3 an odd shade is shown. It is cut from thin sheet-lead with a small chisel and penknife blade, the metal being laid flat, as shown at A, and the design being first drawn out with pen and ink. The ends of the strip of lead are caught together with small copper tacks, which should be driven down at the ends the same as rivets.
In order to obtain the flare at the top, the lead should be beaten out with a light tack-hammer or a round piece of hard-wood, until the proper shape has been obtained.
The metal-work should be painted black, and to lend a better finish the filigree shade may be lined with pink or orange-colored China silk.
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. Fig. 7. Fig. 8. Fig. 9. Fig. 10.
An Electric-light Screen
In homes where electric lights are used it is often desirable to partly hide or subdue the harsh light from the bright filament within the bulb. A ground-glass bulb answers the purely utilitarian purpose, but there is no reason why the screen should not be decorative also.
In Fig. 4 an attractive design is shown. Four or five triangular wire frames are made and filled with wire ornaments, as shown at Fig. 4 A, and they are caught together at the sides so that they will form a cap, or hood, over the bulb. A band of thin sheet-lead is run around the edge, and to it the glass-bead fringe is sewed fast through small holes that may be punched in the metal with a fine awl.
The cap is lined with silk, and the beads should correspond with it in color.
A Bell-shaped Shade
In Fig. 5 a bell-shaped shade is illustrated. It is made up of five sections, as described for the gas-shade in Fig. 1.
The ornament may be embroidered or painted with water-colors, or the sides may be left plain. A line of short glass-bead fringe around the bottom will add to the appearance of the shade.
A Pear-shaped Shade
In Fig. 6 the cap is cut from thin sheet-lead. The four or five separate parts are caught together at the edges with fine wire drawn through small holes, and all the metal-work is painted black.
Long glass-bead fringe is attached to the lower edge of the cap, and the ends are caught together at the bottom.
A Dome-shaped Shade
For a dining-room, where a cluster of lights is used, a good idea for a dome-shaped shade is shown in Fig. 7.
This is made from a silk parasol lined with white. In order that the ribs may hold it in shape, saw off the stick just below the catch and pass the electric-light wire through the silk at the middle of the top.
A number of panels are made of the same width as the distance between the ribs; they are caught to each other and to the end of each steel rib with fine wire. The panels are made of wire and covered with thin China silk, which is ornamented with garlands and ribbons, either embroidered or painted on, as shown in the drawing. Glass-bead fringe should depend from the lower edge of these panels, and it should match in color the silk of the parasol and the panels.
Another Dining-room Shade
Another idea for a dining-room fixture is shown in Fig. 8.
It consists of two wire hoops held about six inches apart, the edge of a band of embroidered silk being caught over each hoop. These hoops are suspended from a circular disk of wood, which in turn is supported by means of the flexible wire that conducts current for the light. The bulbs are enclosed in frosted glass globes, three or four of which are suspended in a cluster at the centre of the hoop. A long silk or a glass-bead fringe ornaments the lower edge of the band.
Another way of arranging this fixture is to carry the globes to the inside of the band. From four to seven of them may hang just inside the band, which, in that case, may be made seven or eight inches wide instead of six inches.
The globes should be of a size to accommodate eight-candle-power lights.
In making any of these shades it would be well to cut the forms from card-board, and paste them together to form a pattern from which to shape the metal parts.
A Canopy
In Fig. 9 a canopy of thin metal strips and silk is shown.
The strips are cut from thin stove-pipe iron, brass, or copper. The soft metal is preferable to the hard, or spring, brass, as it can be more easily bent and it will keep the shape better. A paper plan may be drawn of one section, and the small scrolls fitted over it, then banded together with fine wire. The bottom of this canopy is round, but the six sides are slightly flattened at the middle, half-way between the top and bottom.
The inside of the canopy is lined with light silk, and silk or glass-bead fringe is attached to the lower edge.
A Panel Shade
Fig. 10 shows a simple shade made of four panels composed of covered wire and thin silk. The ornamental design may be embroidered, or painted or cut from colored silk and sewed on.
This shade may be suspended from the socket by means of silk cords or wires, and the open spaces at the top will permit some light to glow above the shade.