A pleated shade is a lampshade made from fabric or paper folded into regular pleats around a wire frame. The pleats may be knife pleated, box pleated or gathered, and the shade can take a drum, empire, coolie or bell shape. The pleating softens and diffuses the light while adding texture and a tailored finish.
Pleated silk and linen shades became popular in the early twentieth century with the spread of electric lighting in the home, and they remained a staple of country-house and traditional interiors throughout the century. Hand-pleated silk shades, often lined, were produced in a wide range of colours, while card and paper pleated shades offered a simpler, crisper look. A well-made shade has evenly spaced pleats, neat binding at the top and bottom edges and a lining that reflects light downward. Antique shades are rarely found in good condition because silk perishes and fades, so most antique lamps today are fitted with new hand-made shades. Choosing the right size and shape is important: the shade should balance the proportions of the base, and a pleated finish is particularly well suited to classical, Georgian-style and Chinese porcelain lamp bases.
