Fixing Glass Lamp Shades
Glass light shades are used in two ways: one is merely decorative, the other is a long term investment. It is not surprising to find glass lamp shades used as decoration because of their distinctive, noticeable quality. A turn-of-century bankers lamp shade is a good example. However, most people do not realize that glass lamp shades are also items of fine art which can be collected. When these shades are broken, the owner should do one of two things. He or she can commission a replica from a glass maker, or undergo the harder art of restoration.
If the glass light shades do not contain many other components such as beads (in beaded lamp shades), mica flakes, brass or iron, and has a relatively simple shape such as a cone or cylinder, it can be made anew by a glass blower or glass maker. The key is to find the right kind of glass that matches or approximates the color of the original. Glass blowing is an ancient art and many people continue to do it today as a hobby. It should not be difficult to find a skilled artisan willing to make a replacement shade for the right price.
However, a glass light shade is complicated by the fact that it is not one piece of glass. Some are composed of multiple, heterogeneously shaped pieces held together by solder or metal pieces. These will require the help of a restorer. The costs will usually include not only the skills of a restorer, but also the attendant materials. Many art light shades require the skills of a restorer and not merely a glass maker.
Some repair jobs are quite simple and only require swapping in one new piece of glass for an old, broken or dirty one. The usual case is that enough damage has accumulated such that the restorer will have to do many things to get the glass light shade back to its original shape. Firing new or acquiring old glass panes to replace the originals is often necessary.
Other parts of the light shade including the metal or wooden base, as well as decorative beads or metal parts on the shade or holder itself deserve equal attention. Experience working with each one of these materials is required making the glass lamp shade restoration business difficult for the newcomer craftsman but probably also quite lucrative.
The owner who restores his glass light shades will extract many benefits. One is that he or she can now display the lamp shade again as a decorative object. Another is that the value of what is likely a valuable family heirloom is preserved by the restoration process.
Additional topics and articles on light shades can be found at the site. This website discusses how to select tiffany glass lamp shades.