A silk shade is a lampshade covered in silk, stretched, gathered or pleated over a wire frame to soften and colour the light of a table lamp, standard lamp, chandelier or wall light. Silk diffuses light warmly and evenly and has long been regarded as the finest material for traditional lampshades.
Silk shades became widely popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with the spread of electric light, when fashionable interiors were furnished with elaborate shades in Empire, bell, drum and scalloped shapes, often trimmed with braid, fringing, beading or tassels. Shade makers used both pure silk and silk blends, lining the inside with a paler silk to reflect light and conceal the frame. Hand-pleated and hand-gathered shades, sewn by skilled makers, remain a speciality of British workshops today. Antique silk shades rarely survive in good condition, since silk is weakened by heat and light and becomes brittle and split, so most antique lamps are now fitted with new shades. When choosing one, consider proportion, shape and colour in relation to the base, the type of bulb and the room, and allow sufficient clearance between bulb and fabric to avoid scorching.
