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HOW TO CHOOSE CEILING FIXTURES:
Although we are happy to help you find fixtures that fit well with the age
of your home, we need to emphasize that this is more of an art than a science.
Popular fixtures may have been produced for decades, finding their way into
homes of many styles and periods.
We also encourage you to not be too tied to the "appropriate"
style. Make some leeway to choose fixtures that are attractive to you as well.
After all, you will be living with them. And remember that homeowner's 75
years ago did the same.
DESCRIPTION OF ERAS:
- AMERICAN VINTAGE -
This category is a bit of a catchall, collecting a wide variety of fixtures
that do not clearly fall into one distinct period or style. There were many
fixtures manufactured in the teens and twenties that had a look all their
own. They often had design and ornamentation that include elements of other
periods, but softened up a bit to fit in the popular family homes of the
times. We'd like to once again encourage you not to be too tightly bound
to finding lights appropriate to your home. The original homeowners often
exercised their personal tastes when choosing lighting. In addition, many
early homes did not clearly fit into a specific style when built. So feel
free to entertain these fixtures which embrace the spirit of vintage lighting.
- ART DECO -
Beginning in the early 20's and lasting through the 30's this "modern" style
was reflected not only in lighting, but art, architecture, and furniture
as well. It gained great popularity not only here in the U.S. but in Europe
as well. Deco design elements often included sharp clean lines and angular
symmetry that was enhanced by uniquely cast glass shades of various colors.
The most popular style was the slipper glass fixture. Hundreds of fixtures
were designed which used the molded slipper glass shades and each shade
fit only one type of fixture body. Thus vintage slipper glass shaded fixtures
typically did not have interchangeable glass. This made them rare and hard
to reproduce. If this style is appropriate to your home, contact us to see
what originals we may have in stock.
- CRAFTSMAN -
Fixtures in this collection are typical of those found in craftsman style
bungalows of the early 20th century, and are also comfortable in many modern
& rustic decors. The Arts and Crafts movement was a response by craftsmen
to move away from the frilly ornamentation common in the Victorian Age.
It emphasized simplicity and hand craftsmanship with a concern for the working
conditions of the worker. Design elements of this style include clean, straight
lines, square tubing and bodies, lanterns (often with stained glass panels)
and hand hammering of copper and brass.
- EARLY ELECTRIC -
This lighting periods reflects the design elements of the previous gas light
period. Straight rods for up-tubes instead of chain are common elements.
However there was a blossoming of design changes as manufacturers were released
from some of the constraints that gas placed on construction methods. For
example shades could now face downward, which was a very different look,
not to mention better for task lighting. Some Early Electric designs are
clean and simple, originally aimed at a rapidly expanding utilitarian market;
and some retain the flowery ornamentation of the earlier Victorian influence.
- GAS -
Coal gas was widely available from the mid 19th Century until it was gradually
supplanted by electricity at the turn of Century. Most gas fixtures became
somewhat standardized with 4" fitters facing up, to accommodate the
existing technology.
This allowed sufficient air for combustion, and adequate room for heat dissipation.
All gas fixtures required solid piping (no chains) from ceiling to the central
body and out to the burner via the arms.
- GAS-ELECTRIC -
The gas electric period was very brief, beginning in the late 1890's and
ending for the most part by 1905. Electricity was just being introduced
into homes as a lighting and energy source; however, it was not yet reliable.
Lighting manufacturer's combined both gas and electric into one fixture.
When the electric power failed the homeowner could turn on the gas portion
of the light. Gas electric fixtures traditionally have a 4" gas shade
facing up and a paired matching 2 ¼ shade facing down.
- VICTORIAN -
Strictly speaking, the late Victorian period encompasses the 1880's to 1900,
in which gas lighting was the only option for most locales. But what we
have come to associate with this style is finely crafted, highly detailed
ornamentation, often with floral motifs and graceful curves. Fixtures we've
grouped here reflect these characteristics and provide beautiful accents
to decors with a Victorian influence.
HOW TO CHOOSE SCONCES:
Although we are happy to help you find fixtures that fit well with the age
of your home, we need to emphasize that this is more of an art than a science.
Popular fixtures may have been produced for decades, finding their way into
homes of many styles and periods.
We also encourage you to not be too tied to the "appropriate"
style. Make some leeway to choose fixtures that are attractive to you as well.
After all, you will be living with them. And remember that homeowner's 75
years ago did the same.
DESCRIPTION OF ERAS:
- AMERICAN VINTAGE -
This category is a bit of a catchall, collecting a wide variety of fixtures
that do not clearly fall into one distinct period or style. There were many
fixtures manufactured in the teens and twenties that had a look all their
own. They often had design and ornamentation that include elements of other
periods, but softened up a bit to fit in the popular family homes of the
times. We'd like to once again encourage you not to be too tightly bound
to finding lights appropriate to your home. The original homeowners often
exercised their personal tastes when choosing lighting. In addition, many
early homes did not clearly fit into a specific style when built. So feel
free to entertain these fixtures which embrace the spirit of vintage lighting.
- ART DECO -
Beginning in the early 20's and lasting through the 30's this "modern" style
was reflected not only in lighting, but art, architecture, and furniture
as well. It gained great popularity not only here in the U.S. but in Europe
as well. Deco design elements often included sharp clean lines and angular
symmetry that was enhanced by uniquely cast glass shades of various colors.
The most popular style was the slipper glass fixture. Hundreds of fixtures
were designed which used the molded slipper glass shades and each shade
fit only one type of fixture body. Thus vintage slipper glass shaded fixtures
typically did not have interchangeable glass. This made them rare and hard
to reproduce. If this style is appropriate to your home, contact us to see
what originals we may have in stock.
- CRAFTSMAN -
Fixtures in this collection are typical of those found in craftsman style
bungalows of the early 20th century, and are also comfortable in many modern
& rustic decors. The Arts and Crafts movement was a response by craftsmen
to move away from the frilly ornamentation common in the Victorian Age.
It emphasized simplicity and hand craftsmanship with a concern for the working
conditions of the worker. Design elements of this style include clean, straight
lines, square tubing and bodies, lanterns (often with stained glass panels)
and hand hammering of copper and brass.
- EARLY ELECTRIC -
This lighting periods reflects the design elements of the previous gas light
period. Straight rods for up-tubes instead of chain are common elements.
However there was a blossoming of design changes as manufacturers were released
from some of the constraints that gas placed on construction methods. For
example shades could now face downward, which was a very different look,
not to mention better for task lighting. Some Early Electric designs are
clean and simple, originally aimed at a rapidly expanding utilitarian market;
and some retain the flowery ornamentation of the earlier Victorian influence.
- GAS -
Coal gas was widely available from the mid 19th Century until it was gradually
supplanted by electricity at the turn of Century. Most gas fixtures became
somewhat standardized with 4" fitters facing up, to accommodate the
existing technology.
This allowed sufficient air for combustion, and adequate room for heat dissipation.
All gas fixtures required solid piping (no chains) from ceiling to the central
body and out to the burner via the arms.
- GAS-ELECTRIC -
The gas electric period was very brief, beginning in the late 1890's and
ending for the most part by 1905. Electricity was just being introduced
into homes as a lighting and energy source; however, it was not yet reliable.
Lighting manufacturer's combined both gas and electric into one fixture.
When the electric power failed the homeowner could turn on the gas portion
of the light. Gas electric fixtures traditionally have a 4" gas shade
facing up and a paired matching 2 ¼ shade facing down.
- VICTORIAN -
Strictly speaking, the late Victorian period encompasses the 1880's to 1900,
in which gas lighting was the only option for most locales. But what we
have come to associate with this style is finely crafted, highly detailed
ornamentation, often with floral motifs and graceful curves. Fixtures we've
grouped here reflect these characteristics and provide beautiful accents
to decors with a Victorian influence.
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