Tips and Techniques for Protecting Your Rawhide Lamp Shade

Rawhide lamp shades are works of art perfect for cabin lighting and lodge decor.  You don’t have to settle for paper or faux materials when genuine hand laced rawhide shades are not only beautiful and functional but affordable too. Rawhide leather Lamp shades have no equal for character and charm in rustic decor. 

Rawhide shades are hand-made by craftsman using high quality translucent rawhide. A welded frame and hand stretched and laced rawhide creates a beautiful one of a kind shade. The translucent character of the rawhide allows light to emanate from within to create a wonderful natural atmosphere, perfect for warm, friendly and inviting southwest, western and country decor.

Protect your investment in rawhide craftsmanship by understanding how rawhide shades respond to their environment and prolong their life by using the same techniques for use and care as the professionals. From a consumer's viewpoint, we want more light in the room so we use bulb wattage to meet our lighting needs, or leave the lamp on for long periods. But, this pushes the rawhide beyond its limits. Understanding that, it is also important to realize that rawhide wears out sooner or later even with the best of care. Most people who use rawhide shades do so because they like the rustic look and there is no substitute for rawhide. So, we accept the fact that replacement will be a part of ownership and enjoying rawhide.

Mission Del Rey has years of experience in producing rawhide lampshades and have identified various threats to shade life. For this reason, we have developed techniques for care and use. When a rawhide shade splits it is obvious that there is a problem. It is rare that a shade splits for no reason. To avoid splitting, heat/dryness has to be addressed or it will continue. Rawhide is not tanned like leather. It is "raw hide" constantly expanding and contracting with heat and humidity. When wet or humid, it loosens and when heated or dry it tightens. Heat will cause the hide to tighten until it finally tears. Usually it is a combination of things that cause splitting.  A high wattage bulb for shade size, direct sunlight, placement near a heat duct, or not conditioning the hide frequently enough are all reasons why a shade might split.

Rawhide lamp shades can easily last several years. We have also heard stories of a shade splitting in one hour with a high wattage bulb and of shades splitting prematurely when being placed near a heat vent, or when placed in a window with direct sun. Smaller chandelier lamp shades are at greater risk because of the close proximity of the bulb to the shade, while lager shades last longer because the heat can more easily escape.

The best results are achieved by regularly conditioning the shades with neatsfoot oil. Weekly or monthly applications may be used.  We also recommend using an LED light bulb in order to extend the life of the shade.

See our entire gallery of rawhide lamp shades here.