fiberglass drum lampshade & 1950s pendant lamp shade styles

Meteor Lights’ Lumicel™ fiberglass-alternative lampshades are ideal replacement shades on lamps in many styles, including retro-modern, 1950s, Eames, atomic, Danish Modern, mid-century/modern, tiki, vintage western, googie or biomorphic, and contemporary decor.

Most styles can be made as pendant lamps (hanging light fixture). The heights listed below are the standard default height for that shade style; we can customize the height to suit your needs. Medium. large and XL pendants work best at 11″ to 12″ tall. The small diameters work best at 12″ to 14″, but we can make any shade any height.

Any shade is available in any color, with optional pattern, and a wide choice of whipstitching options. Custom colors and patterns are available, as well.

lampshade ring spider options

Meteor offers two basic lampshade ring spider configurations: standard washer fitters, for use with harps, bulb clips, flush-sitting on torchiere bowls, and through-wired fixtures; and Nord washer fitters, for use with 1.5″ diameter phenolic sockets with external threads and screw cap, on both lamps and pendant lighting. Standard washer spiders are flush to the top of the shade; Nord washer spiders are offset by 1.5″ (from either the top or bottom of the shade, depending on the application).

We don’t cut corners with our materials. We use 10-gauge brush nickel wire for our lampshade rings and frames. Our heavier wire is far stronger than the easily-bent 11 and 12 gauge wire found on budget shades, and the brushed nickel silvertone finish resists corrosion, even in humid climates. Rusted wired will contaminate the shade material it touches. No corrosion, no contamination (check that old vintage shade up in the attic; there’s a good chance it’s made from cheaper wire, and if so, it’s likely bent and corroded). Our shades will last decades. Or longer.

Standard shade washers are 15/32″ inside diameter, slip standard 1/8IP lamp pipe, and 1/4-27 finial studs (or, the threads on the top of the harp, in plain English ;-p). Nord washers are 1 5/8″ inside diameter, fit over 1.5″ outside diameter threaded sockets, and are secured with the screw cap that comes with the socket.

We use Nord washers for our pendant lamps, but they are also often used on certain “harpless” modern table and floor lamps. If this is what you need, specify “bottom mount” when you place your order.

tiered lampshades and pendant lamp shades

These are the classic tiered lampshades from the 1940s and 1950s. This classic vintage modern style is contemporary once again. Shades in this style are also known as “double decker,” “triple decker,” and “birthday cake” lampshades.

The regular two-tier is an ideal replacement shade on many vintage and mid-century lamps. The reverse (or “upside-down”) two-tier shade is suited to retro/modern, atomic, and tiki lamps, and on many Danish Modern and retro-influenced contemporary lamps as well. The XL reverse two-tier pendant shade looks great over large and standard-sized dining tables, and is appropriate for living rooms where the classic midcentury-modern vintage look is sought; the large and medium reverse two-tier pendant shades look great over smaller dining tables and dinette sets, and in bedrooms and dens. The three-tier fiberglass lampshades are a classic fifties design, and make for dramatic pendant light fixtures.

2-tier lampshade

diameter listed is for main tier
the main tier is the wider tier
the height listed is the total height
heights are CUSTOMIZABLE
available in any color and pattern

Small (S2)(10″ dia.)
Medium (M2)(13″ dia.)
Large (L2)(15″ dia.)
X-Large (XL2)(18″ dia.)

1950s lampshade styles

lampshade ring spider options

tiered lampshades and pendant lamp shades

atomic tiered lampshades and pendant lamp shades

drum, barrel, and cylinder lampshades and pendant lamp shades

Fiberglass Parchment Cone, Square, and Sconce Shades

Danish Modern inverted cone shade

tambourine shades