Classic Chrome Schoolhouse Flush-Mount w/Small Shade, c1932

Description

The familiar moulded trim profile of the base of this fixture was a design that had been around for decades, remaining popular because of its simple yet appealing classic style. The original chrome finish on the base dates it to about 1930 or later. With its petite and simple 6-1/2” diameter opal shade, this would be a great fixture for a smaller kitchen or bathroom of the 1920s or 1930s.

The pendant or semi-flush lights often called "schoolhouse fixtures" are defined by their large white (or "opal") diffusing glass shades and simple designs. These fixtures first rose to popularity around 1920 and were common well into the 1950s. They were certainly found in schoolhouses, but were also installed in pretty much any commercial or institutional setting where high levels of illumination were desired at low cost. From plain and super-simple to dressed up with flourishes and decorated glass, there is a schoolhouse fixture for most any setting.