I see nothing wrong with the lamp. It appears to be in good condition. I have a ginger jar lamp in my living room which is over thirty years old. They are not cutting edge style but a classic. I don't know if your lamp is worth putting alot of time and effort in. Ginger jar lamps look best with tapered shades. If you decide you don't want it there, maybe recycle it to a less obvious place in your house, give to a friend or donate to a resale shop.

You could get an Empire shade (the shape above) or an English Barrel shade (slightly less tapered).

I would try and paint it because you have nothing to lose really.

I like the lamp and like the shade. It is a good find.
If you want to paint it, try doing it with an 1" artist
brush.

Paint the base what ever color you'd like BUT loose the shade. It's dated.
The same shaped shade but with out all the fuss would work much better in updating the piece.

The shape of the shade is great, but the style is wrong - the lamp has enough lines and curves without the shade having them as well.It almost says 50s early american to me.

I would look for a plain shade, same shape and size.

I think you might have a hard time just going with a shiny white. I could see using a white, but dry brushing it into the crevices and then using a toothbrush or speckling brush to speckle white paint on the rest of the terra cotta. A simple white shade, with a double row of natural colored twine or cording would be nice.

The other way to go would be to do a sponge technique with white, and a couple of shades of beiges, to give it a stone look where the terra cotta is. Then use a linen shade, rather than white, for a warmer look.

You could also do a primer coat over everything (or perhaps two coats on the terra cotta) and then spray the whole lamp with one color. Black would be nice, or a hammered silver or pewter metallic could be very cool. White or cream shade on the black, a pale grey shade or black shade on the silver/pewter one.

FInally, you could take out all the lamp kit hardware and use it as a vase for dried florals or decorative piece on a shelf where no one would see the opening. For that, it could stay just as it is.

retts fin dor o fshs thgyoo ac h

I think you could find a lamp that would look much better in your room :)

I can't help but wonder if just the right shade might make the lamp work, as is.

Les, are you okay?

LOL Amy! I am fine. I have the bad habit of typing through my mistakes a lot, and then just deleting the stuff at the end before I submit. I was in a hurry to get dinner going, and didn't proof what I wrote before I submitted.

Or perhaps the aliens have taken over my brain....

LOL Amy - I was wondering the same thing! Les are you swearing at me in Norwegian again??!!

Laurie the lamp is not for everyone but for some reason I'm drawn to it and the re-use aspect is an added appeal.

I like the way this shade looks on a lamp of similar shape.

Toriat I like the classic nature of it also and think I can freshen it and make it work.

joann I really hadn't considered painting it with a brush but I suppose there's really no reason not to. I have the brushes and a steady hand so should be able to follow the curves well enough.

Les you gave me an idea when you suggested the pewter metallic. I'm thinking a charcoal gray. I'm over black - it's too harsh and I have all I want in my house but I do like things with contrast in the details and charcoal and white just might do it - maybe a pearl finish. And a white shade with gray trim of some kind - or is that overkill?

I've always loved ginger jar lamps and have never forgiven DD's boyfriend for running into the basement sofa table and breaking the one I'd had for 30 years.

I agree with painting it all one color. How about aubergine? You could really play with a lamp with such a reasonable cost. Also agree with replacing the shade.
Dee

I like the lamp and would paint it one color. I think the curvy lines of the lamp shade with the lamp is too much though - the tapered one or drum shape would look great.

SAVE the lamp...you can so work with it.

Les, LOL!

Here's a thread I have saved about making over a ginger jar lamp and making it CUTTUNG EDGE.....in mercury....

Take a look...just an idea....

Here is a link that might be useful: Lamp make over...up -to-date...

I say get rid of shade and paint base.

Nicole...thanks for the link.. what a fabulous makeover! I am in love with that lamp.

"Laurie the lamp is not for everyone but for some reason I'm drawn to it and the re-use aspect is an added appeal"

Then I'm changing my answer! Anything you're drawn to for whatever reason should be used.

Nicole - Love that makeover!

DLM - I think I would like a drum shade with the lamp to update it but I wanted to tell you that I had a lamp with the pleated shade on it. The pleated part was glued to an underneath layer. I was able to rip off the pleated part and then I had a flat shade to recover.

I like the shape of the lamp and would have bought it too. On Nate Berkus' show, he often repaints lamps with spray paint. I love to redo something old and make it useful again!

Please come back and share the results!

Okay, so you don't think me completely crazy suggesting aubergine. I was thinking something like this Wildwood lamp.
Dee

Dee I don't think you're crazy at all! This lamp is in a room that already has an eggplant alcove but it's been painted that way for 5+ years and I'm over it - moving on! But accessories are a whole 'nuther thing.

Thanks Lori - it will be saved!

Nicole I've seen that makeover, too. Quite the update!

The shade is history for sure - can't live with that. But I will try pulling off the flutey stuff - thank you Dawn for that suggestion. Nothing to lose by trying that.

I have a wonderful fabric I used on a seat cushion and curtain in this room. Overkill to cover a lampshade in it, too?