A rare pair of cranberry and vaseline-glass lampshades with unusual floral design attributed to John Walsh Walsh of Birmingham. Suspended with period copper gallery and replacement ceiling rose. England c.1900

Ht.(as displayed)76cm/27.5in, Ht.(shade & fit)33/13, Ht.(shade)24/9.5

Provenance Ref: Glass of John Walsh Walsh, Eric Reynolds, P.42, PL.7, reg.des.375896 (matching shade design)

Stourbridge Glass, Birmingham

Thomas Webb & Sons, Henry G. Richardson & Sons,  Stevens & Williams, John Walsh Walsh

• The industry was established at the beginning of the 17th century by glass-makers from Lorraine in north-eastern France

• The industry grew and evolved for the next 275 years and glass from Wordsley, Amblecote and Brierley Hill is recognised as amongst the finest in the world

• Birmingham Lighting designers such as Best & Lloyd, Faraday & Sons, Osler & Co, James Hinks & Son and Messenger & Sons employ the Stourbridge factories to produce the glass-ware for their lights.

• Mostly it is impossible to say which firm produced a particular lampshade but some patterns were registered/catalogued and can therefore occasionally be attributed.