Carnival Glass Light & Lamp Shades
Part 6- Imperial Carnival Glass Shades Continued
Series by Roy Hieger
HAMMERED BELL
As the name implies, these are bell shaped shades with the surface finely indented, much like hammered metal. They measure 4 ½ inches in height. On the external surface, at about the mid-level, they have a ridge that measures 1/8 inch above the surface. One and a half inches below that ridge is a second similar ridge, 1/2 inch from the bottom of the shade. The intervening area contains a curled plume-like pattern. The shades do not have the usual type of fitter. Instead they are closed at the top. Some have a small metallic, berry-like knob, at the apex. They were intended to fit, open end up, in a ring type holder on a light fixture/chandelier. The other type has a metal fitting with a ring or hook at the top, designed to suspend the shade. The fittings have a central channel for passage of the electric cord. The Hammered Bell shades are known only in a frosty white, a lot like that of the Buzz Saw shade. They are nicely iridized, inside and out.
Although these shades have been attributed to Imperial, I have not been able to find them in any of the old Imperial catalogs, or in the Butler Bros Catalogs. They may well have been made as a special order for a chandelier manufacturer since they were obviously designed for specific ceiling fixtures.
IMPERIAL GRAPE
This was Imperial’s #473, another of their NUART shades. The pattern of grapes and leaves is that used on so many other Imperial Grape pieces. The shade is known only in the electric style, and in marigold. It is one of the hardest Imperial shades to find. It measures 5 ¼ inches in height, and 5.0 inches in diameter at the slightly flared, round, serrated bottom.
LEAF GARDEN
This pattern was made in both the gas and the electric styles, and is know in white, a satiny frosted marigold, and smoke. The pattern consists of a ring of 18 small, slightly elevated squares that encircles the shade, just below the fitter, and 18 vertical, long stemmed oak leaves, every other one extending to ¼ inches fro the bottom, the other 8 ending 1 ¼ inches short of the bottom. The illustrated smoke shade measures 4 5/8 inches in height and is iridized inside and out.
TALL LIGHT OPTIC FLUTE
This was Imperial’s #548, another of their NUART shades. It was called Light Optic Flute in the Imperial catalog. It was made only in the electric style, and is known in a frosty marigold, clambroth, green, and smoke. It is fairly smooth on the outside but has 10 faint panels of medium width on the inside. The shade flares slightly toward the round faintly scalloped bottom. The shade measures 5 1/8 inches in height. Versions with wheel-cut designs are known, one with 10 point stars selling on eBay in 2005 for $160.00.