It is not unusual to find a glass lamp shade with high value of craftsmanship or antique heritage. Even a functional one such as a bankers lamp shade can have ornamental value. Such shades, when they become old, should be restored or repaired rather than thrown away. The owner should refrain from trying to fix it him or herself, as amateur attempts to piece together the parts results in abrasion of the cracks, or application of glue results in extra work for the restorer. Not all glass lamp shades need to be restored: some can be replaced completely if a glassmaker is willing to undertake the task.
Some glass light shades are simple in that they do not contain supplementary components such as cemented or chain beads, mica parts, and have a fairly regular shape. Beaded lamp shades are quite common. These can be recreated by a good glass blower. The key will be to select the right colors for the glass which itself is an art. Glass making is a common art form and one should be able to find an expert who can remake simple or moderately complex glass shades. The cost will depend on the skill of the artisan.
However, a glass light shade is complicated by the fact that it is not one piece of glass. Some are composed of multiple, heterogeneously shaped pieces held together by solder or metal pieces. These will require the help of a restorer. The costs will usually include not only the skills of a restorer, but also the attendant materials. Many art light shades require the skills of a restorer and not merely a glass maker.
Some repair jobs are quite simple and only require swapping in one new piece of glass for an old, broken or dirty one. The usual case is that enough damage has accumulated such that the restorer will have to do many things to get the glass light shade back to its original shape. Firing new or acquiring old glass panes to replace the originals is often necessary.
The metallic parts of the light shade will require some basic metal working. Metallic foil such as brass or gold are often used to line the edges of glass panes in Tiffany shades which enhances their visual aesthetics. All of these new additions need to match the old in terms of color, texture, thickness, which no doubt is a long-term, lengthy process.
But the rewards of restoring the shade are many. Most household items have no intrinsic value beyond their utility or brand name. A glass light shade like other fine furniture is a heritage object that has great value. Preserving it is appreciated by the owner as well as the next generation who stand to inherit it.
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