Reverse Painted Lamp
Buy the best reverse painted lamp selected and recommended by interior designers. By Vanessa Weber.
Reverse painted glass lamp shades were invented by the Hendel company in the early 1900s. The realistic designs were done in floral, scenic, and modern motifs that dazzled the crowds, and because they didn’t lose their popularity, painted lamp shades are appealing to this day. You, too, can capture an elegant mood and create a unique atmosphere with these reverse painted lamps.
Glass vintage reverse painted lamp
This beautiful table lamp features a hand-painted lake scene with peaceful blue and lush green shades that continue onto the glass base. The lamp has an overall height of 19 inches from the base to the top of the shade.
Glass vintage reverse painted lamp
AA Importing
Description
This beautiful table lamp features a hand-painted lake scene with peaceful blue and lush green shades that continue onto the glass base. The lamp has an overall height of 19 inches from the base to the top of the shade.
Designer Advice
When this lamp lights up, the beautiful lake scene comes alive, creating an ambiance of peace and serenity. Another great thing about this lamp is that it’s decoratively versatile. It would look just as good in a creatively-decorated, art nouveau office as in a traditional space with Baroque sofas and Persian carpets. Plus, it’s a maximalist’s dream.
Nature landscape reverse painted lamp
This is another stunning reverse painted lamp whose shade depicts a boat scene with a serene green lake and sunset. It has a hand-painted glass base that continues the jade green color scheme with a flower motif.
Nature landscape reverse painted lamp
Astoria Grand
Description
This is another stunning reverse painted lamp whose shade depicts a boat scene with a serene green lake and sunset. It has a hand-painted glass base that continues the jade green color scheme with a flower motif.
Reverse painted lamp shade
This lamp features a bowl-shaped shade with a hand-painted mountain scene and a white, cream, and green base. It’s made from glass from base to shade, and it features an in-line switch for ease of use.
Reverse painted lamp shade
Astoria Grand
Description
This lamp features a bowl-shaped shade with a hand-painted mountain scene and a white, cream, and green base. It’s made from glass from base to shade, and it features an in-line switch for ease of use.
Glass reverse painted table lamp
Add some character to your home with this hand-painted mushroom-shaped glass lamp shade. It features a lovely floral scene and rests on a glass base that’s shaped like a tree trunk.
Glass reverse painted table lamp
JB Hirsch Home Decor
Description
Add some character to your home with this hand-painted mushroom-shaped glass lamp shade. It features a lovely floral scene and rests on a glass base that’s shaped like a tree trunk.
Designer Advice
This reverse-painted lamp is more than just a decorative accessory; it’s a piece of art, and the flowers are absolutely breathtaking when you light it up. Place it on a dark piece of furniture such as cherry or Maplewood finished table. It would also look great in a jungle-themed room or a space with many plants and flowers.
Reverse painted roses metal lamp
Introduce a more ethereal feel into your space with this unique lamp. It features a floral-themed linen shade with romantic white tassels and a metal base with flowers etched on the bottom.
Reverse painted roses metal lamp
Meyda Lighting
Description
Introduce a more ethereal feel into your space with this unique lamp. It features a floral-themed linen shade with romantic white tassels and a metal base with flowers etched on the bottom.
Designer Advice
This reverse painted lamp gives off an ambient light that’s perfect for a study or a home office. Its floral design would look great in a gilded room with rich tapestries, glossy metal accessories, and a stained glass window or mirror. The tassels are especially suited to an overlapping of art nouveau and arts and crafts style.
Reverse Painted Lamp
Buying Guide
Vanessa Weber
Interior Design Expert
Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.
Reverse painting is believed to have originated in the ancient Byzantine empire. But it was during the Renaissance period that the art form became more mainstream, especially for creating religious symbols.
Eventually, it was replicated on lampshades in extremely intricate forms and designs by Philip J Handel. When clubbed with the subtle illumination casted by oil wicks, reverse painted lamp shades took over the world of décor by storm.
If you are a first time shopper looking for authentic reverse painted lamp shades, then here’s a brief guide to help you get started.
Reverse painting is a technique that requires great skill and precision. Paint is applied on the back or the underside of the glass and then viewed by turning it over.
Unlike other types of painting, the details are painted first and the layering and filling color in the larger areas is done later.
Ancient reverse painted lamp shades usually have landscapes, collages, patterns or floral designs. In extremely rare cases, there might be religious symbols or motifs as well.
It’s much easier to create reverse painted shades today with the use of decals and automation. But authentic lamp shades were hand painted by skilled artisans who sometimes signed the painting after completion.
The easiest way to know if the painting is hand painted, is to look for minute imperfections. If it’s a floral design, each leaf or flower will have tiny differences. It does take a skilled eye to spot them though. Mass produced lamp shades have more uniform images.
Manufacturers like Handel, Pittsburgh, Jefferson, Phoenix Pairpoint created beautiful brass and copper lamps with reverse painted lampshades. Today, Pairpoint and Handel lamps are considered to be the most valuable. A Pairpoint Puffy lamp in mint condition can cost a fortune. Recently, one sold for a whopping $12000 at an auction. Go figure.
You can look for marks, logos or patterns on the wick finder or the flame spreader to identify the manufacturer, which can give you an idea of the actual value of the lamp. This can also be very helpful if you are looking for an authentic replacement lampshade for a damaged one.
Another way to spot if you are dealing with an antique lampshade or one produced in a backyard factory in China, is to analyze the glass. The glass used in antique lampshades were usually blown by hand (or mold blown) resulting in random imperfections, much like the paintings themselves. The surface might be slightly uneven. There might be traces of sand or other debris left behind during the sand blasting process.
An antique reverse painted lampshade requires special care, especially if it’s an electrified one. Start off by using a very weak LED bulb for the fixture. One that doesn’t let off too much heat that can cause the delicate paint to flake or peel. Avoid sunlight exposure as well as it can cause the paint to fade.
And if you are shopping on a shoestring budget, you can always look for hand painted reproductions of vintage designs. These will be cheaper than authentic ones but will give you the same design and colors.