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Feeding Air to the Flame
Early glass lamp shades took the form of glass vases, open at the top and bottom. The bottom fit over a lamp that generally contained whale oil, or camphene, a mixture of alcohol, turpentine and camphor oil. The shape of the shade permitted the air that was drawn up through the lamp to be concentrated around the wick. The greater amount of air produced a brighter flame. At the same time, the glass shade sheltered the flame from external drafts.
Changes in Design
Changing designs reflected the use of different fuels for lighting. Whale oil and camphene required a fair amount of air, thus the shade bulged out in the area of the wick. As gas lighting became common toward the middle of the 19th century, the purpose of the shade changed to reducing the glare from an otherwise very bright, bluish flame. The shade helped to more evenly disperse the light of the gas jet and to render its light less harsh. Glass lamp shades for gas lights resemble bowls that are open on the top and bottom.
Kerosene Lamps
Kerosene, a distillate of petroleum, became common after the mid-1800s. Kerosene burned hotter and brighter than many earlier fuels. Lamp shades adapted by becoming tall and thin, with a much smaller bulge in the area of the lamp wick. The shape of the shade provided for a strong upward rush of air that was ideal for the kerosene flame. A similar shape was adopted for all kerosene lamps, including the mantle lamps of the early 20th century. Though mantle lamps produced light by means of an incandescent, chemical-coated mantle, they depended on kerosene to heat the mantle.
Art Glass
The use of electricity for lighting meant that glare reduction was more important than ever. The actual shape of the shade mattered little. Famous makers, such as Tiffany, turned out wide, hat-like shades that were made of many pieces of stained glass. The stained glass produced beautiful designs in the glow of the bright light. Many featured fruit and floral motifs, while others were abstract arrangements of geometric shapes. Still others featured painted scenes that came to life when the light was turned on.
Collecting
Genuine Tiffany lamps, with their exquisite glass shades, regularly fetch $500,000 or more. Simple, clear glass shades for oil lamps can cost as little as $60. Lamps by the German maker Handel feature watercolor scenes on fine art glass. These can easily command prices of $2,000 or more. Decorators and collectors who cannot afford these prices can opt for modern reproductions that offer much the same effect at a much smaller price.