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Torchiere Shades

  Jim Hoyle Lamp Doc article by Jim Hoyle

Say: "TOR - SHEER"

There is hardly any more confusion in the lighting industry than how to select a replacement glass shade for a torchiere lamp.

First let's define a torchiere lamp. A torchiere lamp is any table or floor lamp whose light is directed upward by means of a glass, metal, stone, plastic or other type of reflector. These lamps take many forms and are made of many materials but most commonly made as floor lamps.

The word "Torchiere" is derived from the French word "Torche" torch.

These popular lamps provide excellent area lighting because they bounce light off the ceiling and diffuse it throughout a large area of the room.

There are four (4) basic types of torchiere glass:
1) Dish Type torchiere glass shade (most common) Dish torchiere glass shade is a dish or bowl shape glass shade with a 1 5/8" wide center hole that simply slips down over the electrical socket Torchiere lamp shade electrical socket and rests upon a metal or plastic holder. There is a threaded ring which screws down over the electrical socket to hold the glass in place. This type torchiere glass is usually frosted white, beige or plain white.

2) Reflector waffle pattern opal white torchiere glass shade Reflector waffle pattern opal white torchiere glass shade is a cone shape glass shade available in two (2) common sizes: 2.75" fitter that is 10" wide and the other is a 2.25" fitter that is 8" wide. This torchiere glass usually has a waffle type pattern pressed into the surface of the glass although there are some with no pattern in the glass. These torchiere glass shades were very popular in the 1920's and 1930's and were found on many 6 way floor lamps that had 3 arm lights plus a center light. They are also available on some modern lamps as well as some floor lamps without arms.

3) Neck type torchiere glass shade Torchiere shades - neck type is a larger glass, usually around 13-16" wide with a long neck that fits down inside a 2.75 - 3"" wide holder.
This glass shade has the appearance of a very wide funnel with neck. These are the most expensive type of torchiere glass shades.

4) Stiffel replacement torchiere glass shade Stiffel torchiere shade is made specifically to fit lamps from this lamp maker.

Buy Torchiere Glass Shades


For the true origin of the torchiere lamp, we have to go back a very long way in history, all the way back to when our ancestors discovered fire. Yes our beautiful torchiere lamps of today find their roots in an humble camp or cave thousands of years ago.
 
Darkness, the absence of light, it is feared by humans today as it was long ago. The absence of light is a very uneasy and vulnerable feeling for an animal whose keenest sense is sight. Mankind has always desired to light up this darkness and to do so as efficiently as possible. Sometime after our ancestors learned to build fire they learned that an elevated fire provided more light than one located on the ground, just as it does today. Organic materials were used on wooden sticks then later oils from animal fats were added for increased combustion. Vessels made of stone and clay were later created to hold the oils and these were raised upon standards of wood or stone to provided a better light source. With the discovery of metals, these were used in combination with stone and clay as upright standards as well as vessels for the burning oils. These were the true forerunners of torchiere lamps of today.
 
A torchiere lamp is any table or floor lamp whose light is directed upward by means of a glass, metal, stone, plastic or other type of reflector. These lamps take many forms and are made of many materials.
 
The word "Torchiere" is derived from the French word "Torche" torch.

Biography: Since 19795 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp & Home Outlet. Jim designs and manufactures fine cast metal table lamps and floor lamps and collects, buys, sells, repairs, rewires, restores, refinishes and appraises antique lamps from special acquisitions and estates worldwide. His company also specializes in lamp and home decor factory buyouts and warehouse closings. Comments and questions are answered personally. The company website contains a wealth of free information about antique lamps, shades and lighting.

Visit his lamp shop and store at 2233 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina about 25 minutes from Charlotte.

We do everything for lamps, shades and chandeliers - buy, sell, repair, restore, rewire, refinish, lamp appraisals.