From the Archive: Exotic Glass Shades of the Time

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then certain makers of high-end, labor-intensive Arts & Crafts glass shades (Handel, Tiffany) would have blushed with pride at the sight of this contemporaneous shade lineup from the Macbeth–Evans Glass Company. More likely they were red in the face.

Combining the richness, detail, and warmth of hand-made art glass with the efficiencies of mass production, shade companies like this one found ways to evoke the character and beauty of expensive iridescent finishes, fine leaded construction, and delicate pierced brass overlays—without the costly “hand” part of the equation.

Of particular note, the Agalite line (produced with Bournique Glass Co. and highly prized by homeowners and collectors today) featured colored swirls of molten opalescent glass pressed into tooled iron molds to produce remarkably detailed, yet cost-conscious, facsimiles of expensive mosaic work.

A stunningly broad and stylistically diverse collection—more than 350 Colonial, Craftsman, Classical, Gothic, Moorish, and Art Nouveau designs—was showcased in Macbeth–Evans No. 42. By comparison, today’s mid-range reproductions appear to lack innovation, sophistication, and artfulness, reflecting changes in manufacture, market forces, and modern ideals of beauty. So: viva antique shades!