Large Hand-Painted Thistle Lampshade – Botanical Study in Moss & Ink

There is something quietly defiant about a thistle.

Painted by hand onto a warm, chalky linen ground, this lampshade captures the thistle not as a precise botanical specimen, but as a memory of one — softened, reimagined, and gently abstracted. The central bloom, with its dark, inky core, is encircled by loose, painterly forms in moss green and soft blush, like fragments of a landscape gathered around it.

The brushwork is deliberately expressive: edges blur, colours pool and shift, and each mark remains visible — a record of the hand that made it. There is a sense of movement here, as though the motif has been carried in on a breeze from the hedgerow and allowed to settle across the surface.

Set against a neutral ground and finished with a deep, inky trim, the piece sits comfortably within both traditional and contemporary interiors. It brings with it something of the countryside — not in a literal sense, but as a feeling: grounded, enduring, quietly romantic.

Each lampshade is entirely unique, painted over the course of many hours, and intended to be lived with as a decorative, functional work of art.

When lit, the lampshade casts a warm, gentle light that highlights the hand-painted pattern and brings a quietly artistic presence to a bedside table, console or reading corner.

As with all Melanie Lewis lampshades, this piece is entirely unique and painted by hand in Shropshire.

DETAILS

Dimensions:

Width across bottom of shade, 35cm

Width across top of the shade, 12cm

Vertical height to top of lampshade, 18cm

Candle lightbulb:
Eco Halogen max 28W
or
LED 9W

Material: Hand-painted on a quality cotton lampshade base.

Finish: Original artwork – this is a one off piece, painted by me.

Perfect for lovers of decorative interiors, nature-inspired design and artisan craftsmanship, this lampshade makes a unique addition to your hallway, living room, study or bedroom.

SHIPPING

I post all my lampshades in EXTREMELY sturdy boxes that I spent a long time sourcing.  I have not yet had a single shade damaged in transit as a result.  Your shade will come beautifully wrapped in tissue and securely packaged.  I send all my  shades using Royal Mail Tracked 24.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR LAMPSHADE

Care of your lampshade - I have been painting lampshades for nearly 10 years now, using professional artist's paint which is designed to be lightfast and not fade.  You do not need to treat your lampshade any differently to a normal fabric lampshade - a light dust from time to time is all it will need.  The paint sinks into the fabric fibres, as it would on a canvas, so once dry, it effectively becomes part of the shade and will not chip or flake.