16" Snowball Shade

Just completed, this 16" Snowball shade is a tabletop version of the large 24" Snowball lamp. The unusually deep shape of this shade is accentuated by the irregular lower edge representing the cascading blossoms of the snowball bush. We are showing the shade on our new Grooved base. The tall, slender profile of the base is a perfect compliment for this shade.

Snowball shades lend themselves to creatively mixing a variety of glasses. Ring Mottle, Streaky, Fracture/Streamer and Ripple glass all coexist harmoniously in this shade. The upper background glass was cut from an old piece of Schlitz Fracture/Streamer. This light airy glass at the top of the shade sets the tone for the entire lamp. The flower glasses are a mixture of whites and off whites, tempered with green and blush colors, while the leaves provide the deeper greens that give the shade depth.

Below is a short video showing Irwin removing the Snowball shade from the form. This is always an exciting step in the process for us because it is the first time we get to see what the shade looks like when soldered together. After the soldering is complete on the outside of the shade, the form and glass are heated, the wax holding the glass to the form softens and the form is removed from inside the shade.