Historic Pricing of Victorian Lampshades
Tracing The Cost of Victorian Lampshades over time
A question I’m often asked by people interested in Victorian lampshades is, “Why are they so expensive?” Some artists charge up to $900 for a handmade Victorian lampshade. Crazy, right? Let’s explore this question using historical pricing as our reference point.
Paper advertisement from 1918, Far FoK publications, Image Copyright Elegance Lamps, 2022
Notice the most expensive item on this page? It is priced $48.00 in this standard, non-luxury catalog. That price seems very low to us today. So why are similar lampshades made by artists today priced at hundreds of dollars? The answer is inflation.
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of money. The USD inflation rate is 2.91% per year, and when that inflation is compounded over 104 years, the rate is a staggering price increase of 1,862.62%. So, that $48 lampshade today costs $943.50. (Consumer Price Index, Webster, Ian)
When we consider the comparability of products made today, we do indeed notice some differences. The lampshades pictured above in the catalog are constructed with 100% silk, as noted in the product descriptions. Many lampshades made today contain nylon, polyester, viscose, and other less expensive fabrics and therefore, this is not exactly a fair comparison.
Very few lampshade artists today are using 100% silk and fine antique textiles to create lampshades and so, a customer should not expect to see a $950 price tag on a lampshade unless it is entirely composed of 100% silk and highly customized or commissioned. Price exceptions exist for those lampshades that are constructed predominantly with silk and include antique textiles (which are incredibly expensive), and handstrung beads. Pricing for those lampshades can and does far exceed $1,800 due to the additional cost of the antique textiles and beads, Yet this is still no more expensive relative to 1918 pricing, and the catalog above was akin to today’s “Sears” catalog.
It is interesting to consider the historical context of pricing as a means to understanding the pricing of Victorian lampshades today.
A 100% silk Victorian lampshade with antique textiles, by Crystal Hayes at Elegance Lamps.
About the Author
Crystal Hayes, Owner and Designer at Elegance Lamps
Crystal Hayes is a lifelong Seattle resident who gains inspiration from the natural beauty and vibrant arts communities in the Pacific Northwest. She thrives on creative expression resulting in unique Victorian lampshades, vintage lampshades, and lamps that can be used in everyday life. Crystal is entirely fearless when it comes to design, she is a perfectionist at construction techniques, and she proves that customer satisfaction still matters.
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