Stiffel Lamp Shades

Vanessa Weber Interior Design Expert

Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.

Updated 16/04/2021

We all know how important lamps can be. After looking closely at the stiffel lamp shades and their designs, shapes and colours that are presented below, you might gain an insight into the incredible variety of available choice. There is no need to rush so take the time you need before deciding.

Buying Guide

Ted Stiffel designed beautifully artistic, minimalist lamps. They combined functionality with beauty, using clean lines that had little in the way of extra ornamentation. Unlike the contemporary Tiffany lamps, these understated designer lamps would tastefully grace any living room. To some extent, they continue to influence home interior design today. They were so popular that they immediately spawned a host of imitators.

But one way to tell a genuine Stiffel lamp from an imitation is to pick it up. Ted Stiffel designed weight into the bottom of these lamps, making the slender metal stems into a practical design. Another way to tell if you have found a genuine Stiffel lamp is to look at the label on the inside of the shade. There should be a tag that is plainly marked “Stiffel.”

What types of shades go well with Stiffel lamps?

Bell Shade

The bell shade has a graceful shape that goes well with almost any sort of lamp, from Ted Stiffel’s original minimalist designs to themed lamps. As the name implies, it is narrow at the top where it attaches to the stem and then flairs out into a bell shape. The white shade tempers plain electric lightbulbs and creates a soft glow instead of a glare.

Drum Shade

The drum shade takes its name from its resemblance in shape to a snare drum. It has a round frame with a top and bottom that are the same size, with supports fastening them together. The cloth covering can be white, crème or a textured brown color. Again, the lamp provides a filter for a bare lightbulb of any sort. The darker brown can even tone down an LED light.

Tall Drum Shade

The tall drum shade, like the smaller one, has a top and bottom that are the same size. The sturdy ribs are covered with silk shantung in various colors. This one is suitable for larger lamps on which the small shades might present an unbalanced appearance. It also adds extra protection, because of its size, for very strong lights. It is an excellent choice for any living room.

Square Empire Shade

This “square” is more like a trapezoid. The top square is smaller than the bottom one, and the two are joined by curving wires that give a bell appearance to the assembly. It might be more attractive than a round lamp in settings which feature strong angles and sharp corners. Or it could become a contrast in a setting that has a lot of rounded surfaces.

Pleated Bell Shade

The pleated bell shade doubles up on the softening effect through the use of ridged fabric sides. The fabric looks almost like those paper fans that children love to fold, with its top and bottom edges fastened to circular frame pieces. It can be very attractive with more ornate lamps or delicately grace one of the minimalist stem designs.

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What types of shades go well with Stiffel lamps?

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