A rare Handel hand-painted lamp.
The shade and base are signed.

The scalloped 18” shade is handpainted
on the obverse and numbered 7462.


Philip Handel was best known for the art glass lamps he produced at the turn of the century, at a factory established on the corner of Miller and Catlin Streets in Meriden, Connecticut. Handel made gas and electric lamps with both leaded glass and reverse-painted shades and specialized in techniques for decorating glass. The earliest Handel glass shades were available in a 10" or 12" diameter, with an open top to be used with oil or kerosene bases. It took a great deal of artistic talent to create Handel's reverse painted shades, combining skills in watercolor painting techniques with an eye toward how light would play through the glass and paint to create their three dimensional affects used with landscapes, exotic birds, and elaborate floral patterns. In 1902, a foundry was opened that allowed Handel to make their lamp bases in house as well, allowing the artists working there to experiment in bases which were complementary to the shade designs. Handel lamp bases were mostly made of patinated white metal although some examples of bronze bases do exist. Handel scenic shades often reflect nature although in a much more diverse way than Tiffany or Pairpoint who focused more exclusively on floral designs. Handel did floral shades of course, but also produced unique scenic interpretations such as the bird series, Treasure Island, and many more.

Signed Handel bent glass overlay 6 panel lamp.
Brilliant red, yellow and green colors give this
tropical landscape incredible depth.

Handel signed 18" domical shade #6874.
This shade is in "chipped," lightly "sand-finished" glass, skillfully
painted on the interior with three scarlet macaws, two perched and
one in flight, amidst tropical foliage in green, gold, pink, brown and blue.