Founded in 1876 in Connecticut, the Handel Lamp Company reached its height in the early 1900s, providing lamps that matched the aesthetic quality of Tiffany lamps but at a lower cost. Handel originally specialized in reverse painted lamp shades: shades painted on the inside of the glass, creating a three dimensional-looking image. Handel’s Art Nouveau designs were very popular, but the company floundered as Art Deco styling came into vogue, and closed its doors in 1936.