The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Theory Of Decoration

The betty-lamp), a form found in the early days of this country, but also native to all of Europe, can be traced back through Gothic and Classic civilization to the Egyptians. The betty-lamp was a small oil or grease burner with a wick, used not so much for illuminating purposes as for keeping a perpetual utility flame at hand in the days before the parlor match.

Most of the research on modern lighting has covered the subject only from the industrial or theatrical standpoint. Little research has been done along domestic lines until recently. Ever since the introduction of electricity, the tendency in domestic lighting has been an effort to imitate the candle by means of the electric bulb at the top of a white cylinder imitating the body of the candle. The design of fixtures has been almost entirely along this same theory.

Electric light, however, being many times more brilliant than candle light, a necessary condescension has been made in using shades of various types, although shades were never used with real candle light.

It does not seem that any great popular change will be made in this theory for many years to come, although some efforts have been made, particularly in France to treat electricity as a frankly different type of illumination, which permits new and unlimited possibilities in fixture design that do not imitate the old candle holders.

The lighting of domestic interiors should always be of two types:

1. General lighting in diffused rays.
2. Specific lighting in direct rays.

In neither case should the electric bulbs be in view unless they are coated with a light amber stain, in order to reduce the glare.