Hollyhock on Blue-Grey Chandelier

Several types of Trellis shades were produced by Tiffany Studios. One of them belongs most definitely to the stained glass cone category in that it is perfectly round, with the latticework merely simulated within its confines. Other, more realistic trellis structures are many-sided, with the struts forming the angles between the sides. Similar to the panel shades but much larger, these Tiffany trellises are, strictly speaking, not cones. However, they resemble them closer than any other shade form and will be discussed here.

The trellis seen here is an extremely simple lampshade since the hollyhock customarily climbs on strings or wires instead of wooden supports. These wires are indicated by heavy lead lines, largely covered by the plants and only visible between and above them as they stretch upward toward the aperture. In so doing, they form a geometric pattern on the upper portion of the shade, where horizontal strings or wires cross the vertical supports. The latter may have been added since they are not needed to grow this plant. The shade has a beaded bottom border and a scalloped aperture rim.

The glass flowers are masterful reproductions of the living blooms. Variegated as in the average garden, some are red, some pink, while others have pink-and-white petals, blush-coloured near the centre, snowy around the edges. All have yellow centres. In faithful imitation of Mother Nature’s own, the green glass buds swarm up the wires, seeking out the sun.

In this Tiffany Trellis, the craftsman has created a completely different mood solely through the use of colour. The background glass of this lampshade, especially on the upper half, is sombre and hazy rather than glowing and vibrant. The almost transparent glass is faintly blue, streaked with delicate greens, pinks, and purples, as if mist and drizzly rain had spread over the landscape.

The red blossoms in the middle of the above picture can be spotted having green streaks. Also, the buds twining up the trellis are two tones of green. The leaves are green with reddish-brown striations; many penetrate the lower border row, which is green striated with orange.

In the left picture above , the pink blossoms on the right are streaked with white to mimic the real pink hollyhock in nature (right picture). The care and artistry lavished on this cone are most clearly evident in the white flowers on the left of the picture. Note the natural blush of deep pink at the inner corner of each petal, at the flower’s centre.

Near the lower border, the background darkens into greyish blue, mottled with some more of the menacing greens and browns. Inevitably, a good deal of time was spent-and glass sheets used up – in finding and matching these intricate segments of this Tiffany lampshade.