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 At MICASHADES each mica lamp shade is made to order. You can choose sizes as shown in our examples, make slight changes to one or more dimensions, or create a whole new type of shade. Our prices are for custom sized shades with our stencil designs, which can also be customized in size and color. We do stock many of the wire frames needed for bridgelamp shades in the sizes and shapes shown on this site. Time required to complete an in-stock size bridge shade in your chosen colors and stencil is 1-2 weeks. Time to complete other sizes of bridgelamp shades, and most other lampshades, is 4-5 weeks due to the time needed for custom frame production. Shade DesignHand-cut pieces of mica are applied to a steel wire frame to create our lampshades. Each flat mica side or facet involves precision cutting and edge finishing, all done by hand. Mica is heated and formed to create curves. Seams and edges are finished with handcut, handcolored, archival, textured paper. The seam finishes are mitered at corners, and otherwise custom-fit to your lampshade design. Paper seams and edges produce an extremely secure and integrated finish, create a light-weight lampshade, and offer endless possibilities for color. Metallic colors in edge finish can be anything from copper, gold, steel gray, antiqued brass and more. We can also match the seam color to the mica color, or to any other color.
Frame Shape All our frames are custom made for us, and we can offer you a frame of nearly any shape, including single curves. We can create the lampshade you need for your lamp, wall sconce, hanging light, or just about any type of lighting. Shades can be round, oval, square, hexagon, octagon, cut-corner square, cove-corner square, flared at the bottom, include a dropped edge at the bottom, and more. Curved panels, or round and oval shades all involve heating and molding the mica. Rounds and ovals are usually created in 2 pieces with 2 vertical seams on the sides, except for round chandelier shades, which are smaller and done in one piece of mica with one seam.
Frame Size In addition to the shade shape you must determine the dimensions of the top and bottom and the shade height you need for your lamp. Dimensions of top and bottom are measured point to point on equal sided shades. Height is measured straight down from the highest point of the shade to the level of the bottom edge, not along the angle of the shade sides. Irregularly shaped shades may require a sketch with dimensions marked. Lamp Attachment Lampshades can have: -a bulb clip attachment (clips are available to fit a standard sized light-bulb, or a flame shaped bulb with standard base, or a chandelier bulb) -a screw-top fitting (held onto the lamp by the lamp’s finial), - a bridge lamp fitting, also called a uno fitting (screws onto the lamp socket above the bulb), -a diffuser ring (rests on top of a glass coneshaped diffuser on some floorlamps). Other types of attachments can be improvised as needed.
Mica Color: See samples of all mica colors: here. We stock 3 types of amber mica: standard amber, dark amber, and stained amber. Most of the amber lampshades you see on this site are created with standard amber. Dark amber is slightly more of a brown tone and less red than standard mica. Stained amber has distinct black stains that add produce a more rustic appearance. In addition to ambers, we offer a lighter, almond colored mica we refer to as white mica. Typically we add a sheer paint wash to the inside of our shades, which further diffuses the light from the bulb.
Stencil Design Most of the stencil designs we use can be sized for any shade shape and size. Follow image links on this page or on our home page to see more examples of our stencils on lampshades and to identify stencils by name. Shades can also be created with no stenciling or with custom designs.
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