Lamp Shade Styles and Shapes

article by Jim Hoyle 

Coolees ? Drums ? Bells ?

Are we selecting Chinese music or lamp shades ?

A little ground work for discussion: A shade basically has 3 measurements: top diameter, bottom diameter and side length. There are other measurements on complex frames which is another subject.

Here is a listing of many basic lamp shade styles:

1) Empire Lamp Shade- a round shape lamp shade with straight sloped side. The shade slope is not exaggerated but rather at a traditional angle, the most common type of shade found.

2) Bell Lamp Shade - the same as an empire lamp shade except the side is curved not straight.

3) Drum Lamp Shade - a round shape lamp shade with straight side where the top and bottom diameter are near each other crating a near cylindrical or drum type of shape.

4) Coolee Lamp Shade - a round shape lamp shade with straight or curved sloped side. The shade slope is exaggerated due the top diameter being much smaller than the bottom diameter thus resembling a Chinese coolee hat.

5) Square Lamp Shade - self explaining

6) Rectangular Lamp Shade - self explaining

7) Oval Lamp Shade - self explaining

8) Hexagon Lamp Shade - six sided lamp shade

9) Octagon Lamp Shade - eight sided lamp shade

10) Cut Corner Lamp Shade - the corners are cut straight across instead of a right angle.

11) Inverted Cut Corner Lamp Shade - the corners are cut inward in a curve instead of a right angle.

12) Out round Corner Lamp Shade - the corners are rounded outward in a curve instead of a right angle.

13) Scallop Top or Bottom Lamp Shade - the top or bottom edge is wavy or curved in a scalloped manner instead of being straight.

14) V Notch Lamp Shade - the top or bottom edge has a "V" shaped design instead of being straight.

15) Gallery Lamp Shade - the bottom edge has a wide gallery section which may have a different decorative treatment.

16) Fancy Square Lamp Shade - a square top bell shape lamp shade with square bottom where each bottom side has a single out scallop.

17) Bouillotte Lamp Shade - a short drum (or bell drum) lamp shade, named after the French card game where this lamp and shade were commonly found.

18) Junior Lamp Shade - a short drum (or bell drum) lamp shade made especially to fit a 6 way reflector floor lamp that became popular c 1930.

19) Uno Lamp Shade - any lamp shade where the shade "FITTER" is large enough to slip over or screw over the socket.

Now there are hexagon bells and squares with inverted cut corners. There are V notch bell drums and most any other combinations of features that you may imagine...

It may be obvious that this could go on limited only by our imagination and the lamp shade makers skill. Then there are custom shades in great variety and complexity.

Some say the shade makes the lamp and there is some truth in that. Just do not begin with an ugly lamp and expect your shade to redeem it !

Good luck on selecting your next lamp shade.

- Jim Hoyle

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp and Shade Outlet - Carolina's Most Unique Exclusive Table Lamps, Floor Lamps, Lamp Shades, Tiffany Lamps and Lamp Finials. Jim designs and manufactures fine table lamps and floor lamps and collects, sells, repairs, restores and appraises antique lamps from special acquisitions and estates worldwide. His company also specializes in lamp and home decor factory buyouts and warehouse closings. Emails are answered personally: LampHomeOutlet@bellsouth.net. His company's website contains a wealth of free information about lamps and lighting: www.hoylelamps.com. Visit his shop personally at 2233 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina about 25 minutes from Charlotte.