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A great lamp begins with a striking base, and many can be found at markets and antique shops. Look for appealing shapes and good-quality materials; some, like alabaster and mercury glass, are especially lovely when played upon by light.
Don’t be dismayed if you fall in love with a base that doesn’t work - you can probably rewire it yourself in far less time than it would take to find another you like as much. The next step is to choose - or make the right shade, which will bring the whole piece into balance. Lamps and their shades should be compatible in three ways: style, shape, and size. Personal taste is your best guide, but a few rules do apply.
Wood veneer, silk, and parchment create a warm, rich glow. Hold materials up to a bulb before making your selection.
It is worth the effort to find the perfect shade for every base. Lamps are always noticed. The eye, like the moth, is naturally drawn to their light. Published on 5th Nov, 2002
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Good lighting is essential for comfortable living. But lamps are more than sources of illumination; they are also sculptural objects in their own right, each one bringing its unique combination of form, colour, and texture to an interior.
First, the more formal the base, the richer the shade material should be. For bases made of brass or porcelain, for example, silk, fine linen, satin, and velvet are all good choices. As with bases, some shades take on new life when illuminated.
A shade must be wide enough to allow the bulb at least an inch of space all around (two inches if the wattage is 100 or more) and long enough to cover the electrical fittings - but no longer than that, or the shade will take on a comical look, like a hat pulled down too low over the ears.
