Mission-style architecture and furniture, popular in this country shortly after the turn of the century, was an offshoot of the 19th-century English Arts and Crafts Movement. Deploring machine-age artificiality, Mission furniture sought to blend beauty, simplicity, and utility in an organic unity. Today, Mission-style furniture is enjoying a renascence among craftspeople who admire its unpretentious charms.
Among the most appealing areas of Mission craftsmanship are lamps and shades. Constructed of wood, copper, brass, and a variety of art glass, they offer delightful period ambiance for...