There is hardly more confusion in the lighting industry than how to select a replacement glass shade for a torch lamp.
Let’s first define a torchiere lamp: Any table or floor lamp whose light is directed upwards by means of a glass, metal, stone, plastic or other reflector. These lamps take many forms and are made of many materials, but most of the time they are made as floor lamps.
The word “Torchiere” is derived from the French word “Torche” torch.
These popular lamps provide excellent area lighting by bouncing light from the ceiling and diffusing it over a large area of the room.
There are four (4) basic types of torch glass.
1) The plate type (the most common) is a plate or bowl-shaped glass screen with a 1 5/8 “wide center hole that simply slides down over the electrical outlet and rests on a stand. metal or plastic. There is a threaded ring that screws down over the outlet to hold the glass in place. This type of torch glass is usually matte white, beige, or plain white.
2) The reflective waffle pattern opaline white glass container is a cone-shaped glass display available in two (2) common sizes: one 2.75 “fixture measuring 10” wide and the other being a 2.25 fixture. “measuring 8” wide. This torch glass generally has a waffle-like pattern pressed into the surface of the glass, although there are some no pattern on the glass. These torch-type glass shades were very popular in the 1920s and 1930s and were found in many 6-way floor lamps that had 3 arm lights plus a center light. They are also available in some modern lamps, as well as some armless floor lamps. Many of these lamps are designed so that a fabric shade rests on the reflector glass. This arrangement not only provides excellent illumination of the area, but also excellent reading light.
3) The long neck type is a larger glass, usually around 13-16 “wide with a long neck that fits inside a 2.75 – 3” wide holder. This glass display has the appearance of a very wide funnel with a neck These are the most expensive type of torch glass curtains.
4) The Stiffel Replacement Torch Glass is specifically made to fit the lamps from this lamp manufacturer.
If you need further help selecting the correct torch shade for your lamp, be sure to contact a professional full service lamp company with a lot of experience in torch lamps.
Good luck with all your lighting projects.
Kind regards – Jim Hoyle