Pleasing Shades

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 71, 15 June 1927, Page 12

Pleasing Shades

EFFECTIVE AND CHEAP HOW TO MAKE THEM The ornamental lamp shade plays an important part in the decoration of the modern house. Above are two examples which can be made at small cost by anyone with a moderate amount of patience and skill. They are of oiled paper mounted on stout wire frames and finished with a passepartout of Paris binding. First the shade of the standardlamp. Two lengths of strong steel wire are bent into two circles of equal size, the ends being fastened by a wire ferrule (obtainable at any ironmonger’s). They are then fastened together by five supporting wires, about eight inches long, a.t intervals as shown in the illustration. Between the. two bottom wires A B a small ring, made to fit exactly over a stan-dard-sized lamp-holder, is attached to the four corners by wire arms. Next two Circles half an inch wider than the frame are cut out of thick cartridge

paper, also a strip nine inches wide and sufficiently long to go right round the frame from A to B, allowing half an inch each end for overlapping. The two circular pieces are then dyed crome yellow, and the strip lacquer red, with ordinary cold-water dyes. When dry the design is drawn on in coloured inks, green, blue and vermilion, and outlined delicately in black.

The paper is then painted on both sides with linseed oil until it becomes semi-transparent, after which it is fixed to the frame, the overlapping edges being stuck firmly with a strong adhesive. Finally, the shade is bordered with black Paris binding, care being taken to see that all the joins are entirely concealed. Two tassels of emerald green knitting-silk are then attached, being sewn on over the side wires to avoid any possible strain. The foregoing instructions will be sufficient guide to the making of the table-lamp shade. It is only necessary to add that, the edges of this being straight, a passe-partout binding should be used. The ground colour is of orange, and the design in crimson, green and black, the whole being bound with purple.