With their clean lines and Asian design and symbolism, ginger jar lamps are popular as decorative lighting, especially in more traditional settings. The lamps are based on original ginger jar designs and traditionally are topped with plain white or cream-color shades. The paint colors on the lamp base range from a traditional blue-and-cream to bright shades of orange and red. Birds, flowers and trees are common themes.
Ginger Jar History
Authentic ginger jars are porcelain, and the bulbous body of the jar is hand-painted. The wide-mouth, dome-lid containers became popular in the Qin Dynasty of China — 221 through 207 B.C. Some are seen in museums but often are without the lid. Later century ginger jars still can be found in antique shops but, because they are made of porcelain, they often are chipped.
Purpose
Ginger jars originally were used to store food — usually salt, spices and herbs, such as preserved ginger, which, at the time, was rare. The jars, filled with something special, also were given as gifts. Two centuries ago mass-production of the jars began. They were used as decorations; some were converted into lamps.
Design
Ginger jar paintings sometimes tell a story, while others are abstract or bear Chinese characters. Different color jars held special meaning, as did their symbols, and were given as gifts. Red jars were a wish for the recipient’s happiness. White, with symbols of fertility and prosperity, were for weddings and usually were painted with a dragon and phoenix. Blue-and-white jars were popular in the Yuan Dynasty and represent happiness. Emperors were given yellow jars. Some ginger jars had carved porcelain overlay in addition to the painting, giving them more dimension.
Lamps
Today’s ginger jar lamps are made from ceramic, which is much sturdier than porcelain. The shape and color has remained the same, and the paintings, which can be seen from all angles, often will include Chinese characters. Because the ginger jars no longer hold spices and herbs, they sometimes are constructed of a ceramic lattice work.
Lampshade
The shades used on ginger jar lamps almost always are the same style, adopting the roof line shape of a traditional pagoda. The opening at the top is square rather than round. Because the lamp, itself, is highly styled, the shade is plain silk — in white or cream.
How to Make a Lamp From a Jar
1
Drill a hole through the lid and bottom side of the jar. These holes need to be large enough to fit the lamp pieces from the craft kit through the lid and allow the cord to come out the side of the jar at the bottom. Place a piece of tape over the area of glass you are drilling into. Drill slowly through the glass to keep it from cracking.
2
Run the wire through the hole in the jar and pull the wire to the top. Place the lid on the jar and install the lamp onto the top. The wire comes through the hole in the lid and attaches to the lamp pieces. Be sure to follow any specific instructions with the craft lamp kit.
3
Unscrew the lid and place all the decorations inside. Some decorations that are commonly used are flowers, sand, small trinkets and other small items that go with the style of the room.
4
Place the lid back onto the jar and place a light bulb in the lamp.
5
Put the shade on the lamp and plug the lamp in.
Make a Lamp Without a Shade
6
Drill a hole in the side, near the bottom of the mason jar. The hole needs to be large enough to run the Christmas lights through. Place a piece of tape over the area of glass you are drilling into. Drill slowly through the glass to keep it from cracking.
7
Run the Christmas lights through the hole and into the jar.
8
Place the decorations in the jar. Rearrange the lights as needed to make the entire jar light up.
9
Place the lid on the jar and plug the Christmas lights into the wall.