Launching my evaluation about the place to look out mid century modern vogue fiberglass lamp shades, readers quickly recognized that I needed to put an unlimited spotlight on Meteor Lights — the San Francisco-based agency that has been making fiberglass lamp shades fulltime since 1996. I think about this makes Meteor Lights the longest-running maker of fiberglass lamp shades for the retail market at current! I immediately dialed up Meteor Lights proprietor Rob to look out out additional about his shades. Definitely, he is an expert artisan who stains the color and paints the design onto each shade by hand. They’re glowing lovely!
Fiberglass lamp shades in nearly any mid century design
Being throughout the enterprise for due to this fact prolonged, Rob clearly was pretty educated about fiberglass lamp shade sorts and designs from once more throughout the day. He knowledgeable me that throughout the Nineteen Fifties, when these lamp shades first turned widespread, there have been (1) plenty of a number of kinds of fiberglass laminate parchments obtainable and (2) completely totally different producers utilized the colors and designs different methods.
Rob says his method — coloring the parchment after which making use of its graphic design — every steps, by hand — was one in every of many methods used historically. Show-printing was one different method. Nevertheless, he prefers the administration and outcomes he’ll get from hand-painting.
The fiberglass parchment he begins with at current is accessible solely in a vivid white. So, he has developed a “secret sauce” recipe of pigment in a medium that (1) ensures that the colored delicate shade stays translucent and glowy — which is essential throughout the enchantment of these shades — and (2) means he can custom-color any shade for any endeavor, as an example, matching any Pantone chip.
He moreover has developed methods to make a shade look pale, if the shopper prefers the basic look. Certain, as in case you occur to’ve had the shade for 60 or 70 years — I actually like this idea!
After coloring the parchment, Rob then hand paints one amongst 20+ attainable designs onto the shade. See the pattern picks for his fiberglass lamp shades above, nonetheless I’m assuming the alternate options really are limitless.
Rob knowledgeable me that he has background in industrial design, acrylic fabrication and lightweight manufacturing. He demurred after I often known as him an artist, saying as a substitute that what his shoppers admire most is his consideration to aspect. Wait events are for the time being spherical eight weeks, given this personalised service.
Designs impressed by Abstract Expressionist painters
Above: What lovely shade! Remember utilizing two colors — gold and black — throughout the design, for added dimension. I found Rob’s rationalization of the genesis for this vogue attention-grabbing. From the Meteor Lights site:
The free-form internet design impressed by the American Abstract Expressionist painters (notably Jackson Pollock) was attribute of Nineteen Fifties modern lighting design. Black and white webs are confirmed proper right here on all tiers of an XL (18″ diameter) three-tier lampshade (which may be configured as a pendant lamp or ceiling delicate fixture). We’re capable of make this shade in any color combination (or in a single color for all three tiers); Very attention-grabbing lighting outcomes might be achieved incorporating non-Nineteen Fifties colors into in some other case period-authentic lighting. Combining design elements from completely totally different eras is an effective means create latest, distinctive, and galvanizing design….
I actually like me my Jackson Pollock: “… Deny the accident!”
One different sign of top of the range that Rob talked about to seek for: His fiberglass lamp shades are certain with lacing 1″ apart. Will probably be sooner and cheaper to do the lacing at wider intervals — nonetheless he chooses the narrower lacing for authenticity and a additional accomplished look. I’ve three models of basic fiberglass shades. I went spherical with a ruler and measured the lacing. Definitely, the lacing intervals had been 1″ to 1-3/8″, counting on the size of the shade.
Thanks, Rob, for chatting with me, and for permitting me to point just a few of your work on the weblog! Beautiful!
The place to buy these beautiful lamp shades:
And, study additional of my tales about fiberglass lamp shades proper right here.