HOUSE AND GARDEN 
April, 1913 
271 
J 
chapter on the Physiology of Vision: “The millions of dollars 
spent each year in illumination are in great part wasted and mis¬ 
spent, and by the methods used all the harm is done to the eye 
that is possible. No room should be lit 
in such a manner that the individual lights 
are visible. Illumination should be by 
transmitted, dissipated and reflected light." 
Light colors reflect the most light, be¬ 
cause they absorb less, and diffuse more 
than others, but it is a mistake to use a 
dead white ceiling as a diffusing medium, 
since in effect such lighting suggests a 
mortuary. 
Here also, as in the case of direct light¬ 
ing, color modification is necessary, and 
contributes immeasurably in suggesting an 
atmosphere of repose. Delicate cream and 
ivory ceiling tints are suitable. The im¬ 
portant thing is to employ reflectors which 
re-direct every ray of light from the 
source to the ceiling. Pure silver, highly 
polished, reflects ninety-two per cent, of 
the incident light. The best reflectors for 
indirect lighting consist of fine glass, upon 
which pure metallic silver has been de¬ 
posited. A series of spatulated, contigu¬ 
ous indentations on the inner surface, 
prevents the reflection of a multiplicity of 
lamp-filament images, or streaks on the 
ceiling. The permanency of this reflecting 
surface, depends only on its cleanliness. 
It is not chemically affected or disinte¬ 
grated by light or heat rays from electric 
illuminants. On the contrary, ordinary 
mirror reflectors, glass upon the back of 
which quicksilver or some solution of nitrate of silver and chloral 
hydrate has been deposited become yellow and worthless as 
reflecting surfaces 
with comparatively 
short use. 
Much may be 
said in favor of in- 
direct lighting. 
Owing to the en¬ 
tire concealment of 
lamps and reflect¬ 
ors within, it is pos¬ 
sible to express 
character and individuality by an unlimited variety of exterior 
fixture designs. Hence, we may hide these ugly but efficient re¬ 
flectors within floral baskets, massive urns, pedestals, or cornices, 
without even utilizing the tediously con¬ 
ventional ceiling outlet. There are now 
available portable lamps for table, or 
pedestal use, which combine both indirect 
and direct effects. Within an attractive 
silk shade a powerful reflector gives a soft 
general illumination throughout the entire 
room, or by a turn of the switch, the 
brightness fades and a soft twilight pre¬ 
vails. The versatility of such a lighting 
unit, with its portability, permits of both 
direct and localized, and indirect and gen¬ 
eral lighting, independent of regular fix¬ 
tures or equipment. 
The glass maker has produced in opal 
glass many attractive urns and bowls, 
which lend themselves gratefully to in¬ 
direct lighting applications. In using these 
translucent forms, it is best to utilize inner 
reflectors, if any benefit is to be derived 
from ceiling diffusion, since the mere 
grouping of bare lamps, within one glass 
bowl is, at best, a miserable compromise 
betwixt direct and indirect lighting. This 
is because the inner surface of the glass¬ 
ware generally used, has a negligible re¬ 
flecting or diffusing action, and in practic¬ 
ally all instances the light sources are 
stupidly placed so that their effective 
distribution, cannot be efficiently utilized 
in producing the desired effect. Again, 
Italian alabaster, for example, if too 
brightly lighted from within, loses to a marked degree the charm 
of its delicate veinings and exquisite depth, owing to its excessive 
surface luminosi¬ 
ty from trans¬ 
mitted light. Only 
surface ornamen¬ 
tation rendered in 
decided bas relief, 
is effective under 
such conditions. 
It is best, there¬ 
fore, to allow 
just sufficient 
’SsJKc' 
A situation where white light is desirable, but 
it should be placed to shine on the face, 
not the mirror 
Fig. 1. - — - Suggestive 
of the office or the 
store 
The lines show the lighting arrangement inside the silk shade. The globe should be of dense de- 
polished opal; the shade lowered as indicated. The upper arrow shows position of a small dim¬ 
ming device 
Fig. 2. — Useless, 
but seen by thou¬ 
sands 
