Making a Victorian Lampshade and Restored Antique Lamp
Making Victorian lampshades is fun, but a lot of work. If you love lighting and you love to sew, then this project is easily within reach! The video walks through the steps from applicaiton of the silk and textiles to the frame, addition of the bead strands, and updating the antique lamp base. You can spend a much or as little on materials, but for this one I did not spare any expense.
Beginning at the end: A beautifully restored antique lamp with a handmade Victorian lampshade! All silk, with antique textiles and handstrung beads.
Hand-dyed silk added to the frame. Sadly, I forgot to take pictures of the uncovered frame. But the steps are: 1.) seal the frame with clear paint! Do not skip this step. 2.) wrap the frame with seam binding, 3.) sew the silk to the panels.
Silk layers on, now adding hand-dyed velvet to the side panels.
Silk velvet sewn to the side panels, and antique lace sewn to the front panel.
Pinning on the design elements. With this design, I knew what I wanted it to look like. Never rush the design phase!
Partial trim added, and 75% of beads added. The beads are strung by hand after (an embarassingly long amount of time spent) creating a master bead strand. It can take days to string all of the beads needed for a lampshade, depending on the level of difficulty and the length of the strands. Each strand is sewn to the shade.
Beads and bottom trim added. I love this antique metal lace trim in bronze. It doesn't look tacky like soft braid trim. I has substantial weight, feels like metal, and adds significant elegance to a project.
The beads turned out amazing, and include Czech bicones in opal purple, semi-precious jasper rounds, and vintage venetian seed beads. Time to paint the base!
The metal base is prepped and now I'm and overpainting the existing paint. The paint on this lamp was in amazing condition, but I did not like the colors. I tend to prefer acrylic paints over other types. If the original paint is in poor condition, the lamp must be sanded and primed before painting.
The antique textiles used include antique evergreen soutache and antique chrysanthemum silk embroideries in yellow and cream. I also used some gorgeous antique French trim in green, with metal threads.
The shade turned out amazing! I painted the lamp finial to match the paintwork on the lamp base in order to create visual cohesion.
All the pieces put together: The handmade lampshade, the painted finial, and the restored antique lamp base.
Lit up and looking beutiful. They dye fade on this shade, from top to bottom, is evergreen, purple, then and intersting sienna color. Because the purple is so saturated it can be difficul to see the sienna color..but it's there!
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I love the work you have done!! I too find and restore old lamps. I haven't tried lamp shades yet. You inspire me to try making them. Lovely job!
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Thank you! Have fun on your making journey!
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