Lamp Shade Styles and Shapes

A wee 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 other subject.

Here is a listing of many basic lamp shade styles:

Foolr Lamp

1) Empire Lamp Shade- a round shape lamp shade with level sloped side. The shade slope is not exaggerated but rather at a former angle, the most coarse 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 level 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 level 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) quadrilateral 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 angle Lamp Shade - the corners are cut level across instead of a right angle.

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

12) Out round angle 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 separate ornamental treatment.

16) Fancy quadrilateral Lamp Shade - a quadrilateral top bell shape lamp shade with quadrilateral bottom where each bottom side has a singular 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 beloved c 1930.

19) Uno Lamp Shade - any lamp shade where the shade "Fitter" is large adequate 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 confident that this could go on wee only by our imagination and the lamp shade makers skill. Then there are institution shades in great range 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 choosing your next lamp shade.

- Jim Hoyle

Lamp Shade Styles and Shapes