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Rare Antique 1920s–1930s Halloween Crepe Paper Silhouette Lampshades - Pair
Up for sale is a remarkably preserved, incredibly rare matching pair of authentic antique Halloween crepe paper lampshades dating from the circa 1920s to 1930s. Fragile holiday party ephemera from this golden era rarely survives the decades, making an intact matching graphic pair like this an exceptional find for advanced collectors.
This set features multiple iconic holiday silhouettes distributed around the sides:
Shade 1: Features two (2) flying witches on broomsticks silhouettes.
Shade 2: Features three (3) classic arched-back, spooky black cats silhouettes.
Both pieces are beautifully constructed of vibrant orange crinkled crepe paper over a sturdy paperboard frame, finished with a classic textured black fringe along both the top and bottom borders.
Bonus New Mounting Hardware Included:
As an excellent and highly practical bonus, a collector who previously owned these shades put together a custom set of brand-new brass clip-on mountings. These attach seamlessly to the inside of the shades and clip directly around a standard light bulb to help them mount securely and sit perfectly straight. They work surprisingly well and will be fully included with your purchase!
Item Details & Specifications:
Estimated Year / Era: Circa 1920s – 1930s
Theme: Traditional Golden Age Halloween (Witches & Black Cats)
Material: Fine crepe paper, cardboard/paperboard internal frame, paper die-cut silhouettes
Quantity: 2 lampshades + 2 removable new brass clip-on mountings
Height: Approximately 4.5 inches tall
Base Diameter: Approximately 4.5 inches across
Condition Report:
These are delicate, authentic century-old paper items. They show some expected age and wear from decades of storage but remain in nice, sturdy, and highly displayable condition:
Witch Shade: Shows some honest vintage age and use, including some minor tearing around the cardboard collar ring at the very top edge, but remains stable and in fairly good condition overall.
Cat Shade: The top cardboard collar ring is completely intact and structurally sound.
Graphics & Interiors: The black paper die-cut silhouettes remain crisp, dark, and firmly attached to the crepe paper. The inner tan paper linings show light, clean age-toning but are entirely intact.
Hardware: The included removable brass bulb-mounting clips are brand new, clean, and fully functional.
Collector's Tip for Reshaping:
Due to years of flat storage, the shades are slightly flattened in a few places. Letting them sit with some loose newspaper stuffing packed gently inside for a little bit will easily help round them back out and get them right back into perfect lampshade shape!
Important Display Safety Note:
Because these are authentic antique paper items, we strongly recommend displaying them using cool-burning LED bulbs rather than high-heat incandescent bulbs to preserve the fragile historic crepe paper for generations to come.
Items will be packed with the utmost care, using secure materials to ensure safe transit to your collection. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
