mid-century modern drum lamp shades

Midcentury-modern fiberglass drum lampshade
10 inch diameter x 9 inches tall
color: rust
material: hand-stained fiberglass parchment

Drum lampshades were frequently used as the original shades on many vintage mid-century lamps; the classic, functional, and simple geometric drum shape was a response to the more elaborate and ornate trappings of traditional, old-fashioned lighting design that mid-century modern challenged.

Mid-century modern design was deprecated in the mid-1960s and 1970s, but the design aesthetic that followed (think macrame and overstuffed couches) was itself short-lived. Now, midcentury/modern design has reclaimed its prominence, and contemporary industrial design is strongly influenced by the classic mid-twentieth century design movement. Midcentury Modern is now considered classic design. MCM is arguably the most important American design movement, and it is one of the most prominent influences on contemporary design.

red fiberglass drum lampshade

8 inch diameter x 9 inch tall
color: red

Manufactured by Meteor Lights in San Francisco, CA

Fiberglass parchment (one of the primary light diffusion materials for mid-century modern lamps) is very translucent (light transmitting), and our hand-stained colors are rich and glowing. Strong colors like red and deep blue make great accent lights, but for general illumination, task lighting, reading, etc, you may want to consider a less intense color. Another possibility would be to put the strong color on one of the smaller tiers of a multi-tier shade, and use a less strong color on the main tier. For example, let’s say you really love red, and want it in your dining room light fixture. One possibility would be to use red on the top and bottom tiers, and a color like cream or beeswax (pale earth-tone yellow) on the main tier. The predominant light color would be from the main tier, but the smaller tier or tiers would help provide the color ambiance you’re trying to achieve.

Small drum lampshades like this 8″ diameter example are great for small lamps, such as bedside or accent lamps. In the absence of a lamp harp, bulb clip adapters can be used with standard-shaped light bulbs to affix the drum shade to the lamp. Underwriters Laboratories recommends 100W max with an 8″ diameter shade (although this safety warning is moot if you use CFL or LED bulbs, because their wattages are so low. UL provides max wattage guidelines for lampshades and light fixtures, depending on the size and shape of the shade or fixture, and the materials utilized. The basic idea is to keep heat ventilating away from the lamp. When high wattages are used with narrow shades, heat isn’t dissipated as easily. The wider top of drum lamp shades ventilates heat more efficiently than cone shades with narrow tops, which means you have a wider range of wattage options with drum shades. If you have any questions about lamp safety, we’ll be glad to steer you to the right wattage for your lamp.

Small fiberglass drum shade, hand-stained by Meteor Lights in San Francisco, CA.
6″ diameter.
Shown: caramel with brown streaks and brown lanyard

Fiberglass lampshade parchment is durable, flexible, water-resistant, and provides a better lighting diffusion glow than any other material, regardless of cost. Meteor Lights hand-stains the fiberglass shade parchment for each of our colors, and we can provide the parchment in nearly any possible color. We can add a wide range of optional patterns, also available in many different colors.

Most of what we said about the 8 inch small drum on the previous page applies to the 6 inch diameter shade as well: it works well with small table and accent lamps; it was frequently used on vintage Danish Modern lamps from the 1950s and 1960s; and it can be used as a pendant lamp, and works well hung in clusters or rows, or individually in corners or other tight areas.

This page illustrates the proportional differences between 6 inch, 8 inch, and 10 inch diameter drum shades. A 6 inch diameter x 8 inch tall drum lampshade appears somewhat tube-like, because it is taller than it is wide. On the other hand, a 10 inch diameter x 8 inch tall drum shade appears more like a typical drum shade, because it is wider than it is tall. Every change in diameter and height of any drum shade affects this proportionality, so it is something to keep in mind when designing your drum shade.

Design your own mid-century/modern drum lampshade or pendant lamp shade.