How does one make a supercool lampshade like this?

Cafe Society
1

I have a great exotic Middle Eastern brass lamp. It’s been sitting around waiting for me to get around to re-wiring it for, oh, seven or eight years.

I finally did the wiring, but now it needs a shade because conventionally-shaped shades look unbelievably goofy on it.

How is a groovy lampshade like this one made?

  1. Is there a round thing at the top that all the separate pieces are attached to?

  2. Was each separate piece of shaped wire covered with fabric BEFORE they were all assembled into one complete whole?

  3. I can’t figure out what’s going on with the seams there – Is that some kind of fancy bric-a-brac that is lined up to make the pieces appear to have been cross-stitched together?

  4. How is the fabric probably attached to the wire shapes?
    Any of these questions that somebody can answer for me would be a big help towards reaching my ultimate goal of the perfect punk/harem decor.:slight_smile:

2

Ultimately, any time I’ve attempted to make a lamp shade it’s always ended up looking like poop. That is a Victorian style lampshade, and you can get kits online, with instructions. There are also YouTube videos.

Or take the easy way and search for Victorian Lampshades and buy one already made. Unfortunately the cooler looking ones seem to be the most expensive.

Here are some kits. But they aren’t cheap either.

3

Wow, thank you, Mudshark! That’s impressive that you were able to find the exact shape.

But you’re right, ridiculously expensive. I think I’ll go with plan B – spray paint a colander and hang a bunch of beads from it. The lamp is all wrought-iron-looking anyway.

Thanks again.

4

I think I can help some with the words you can use to search. Question 1, the thingy is called a harp, I think. Google lampshade harp (images) and it shows the different parts.

I looked on Etsy for vintage lampshades and the material is attached to: wire frame or lampshade frame or even wire lampshade frame. They have some nice pre-made ones too, take a look around.

Question 2, I think the dark orange fabric is glued or sewn to the frame, and the gold stuff is an overlay, again tacked to the fabric or wire with glue or sewn to it. But I could be wrong, which brings us to…

Question 3, I’m going to make a guess that the material covering was made special to fit the frame, and then it was slid over the collapsed frame and later the wire frame was bent out to hold the material - hey, like today’s nylon tents.

Question 4 it really wouldn’t be too hard to tack it on with sewing stitches. It could just be held on by tension, like the tents mentioned above.

The kits that Mudshark found are pretty cool but if you really want to go DIY or on the cheap I hope you find this useful. You’re doing this because you like making things? Or like learning how things are made?

I had a lot of fun looking at this stuff, thanks.

5

I wonder if you could achieve the effect you’re looking for with some thrifting for the shape shade you’re looking for, and then a lace shawl you could cut and sew to drape over it?

6

Ive seen instructions on how to use lace or paper doilies on an existing harp/frame. I’d hit up thrift stores, antique shops etc…Get friendly with some of the antique dealers. Often times, if they know you are looking for something (like an old lampshade in a specific style) they will pick up something they would consider “junk” or “unprofitable” for you, and often times resale it yo you at almost no profit. Just let them know when you find what you are looking for, or else they may not want to do this for you in the future.