I think #1 tall and skinny or short and wide would be sort of appropriate for the lamp but I'm hopeless when it comes to shades (in fact, a copy cat post will follow!). I think a coarsely woven fabric (seagrass?) might be good.

I admit it--I like that lamp!

I also like the lamp. :0) I'm into the short drum shades on EVERYTHING at the moment.....so I'm no help....sorry....

If you do a short drum shade, say 60% of the current height, I would do a slightly tapered one about the same diameter or a bit smaller. A straight drum shade may look slightly bigger on top in this size, as an optical illusion. If you do a tall shade I would do a straight or tapered shade maybe 80% the size of this one.

Heavy linen look would be nice.

Where did you find one so big? I think vintage lamps need a big shade and often what is commonly available is too small.

Short drum from me too but I'd rather see it in a burlap or linen texture as the base is so organic.

Take your lamp with you to the store. I had a lamp that needed a shade...took it to Lowes and tried different shades until I found the one I wanted. Am sure you could do that at Walmart....just ask when you enter so they know you have your own lamp. I am sure there will be no problem.

Gee, what a tall lamp. Looks like a stray elbow could knock it right over onto the floor. Looks breakable, too.

Do you have cats? : )

Your lamp looks like a pair my neighbor has. She has a square shade on them and they look great, but her end tables are square too. She has company right now but I'll see if she will let me take a picture of one tomorrow.

i agree with drum style and a natural looking shade as yayagal suggested.

Short drum, no taper, great light!

Buy a shorter harp and then shop at a lamp store for a shade. Now say you go to an expensive store for advice and find a great shade, tell them you will think about it and shop at Target and various other lampshade stores for a similar shade. If nothing good is found at cheap store go back to expensive store to buy correct shade.

I read somewhere to follow the shape of the lamp, so you could get a curved or tapered shade vs. a drum shade. Textured would be nice. You may even also be able to find a colored shade.

I found some nice shades at BB&B.

I was looking for something else and noticed these lamps in the background that reminded me of your post. I like the proportion of shade to base....

Never try to buy a lampshade or harp without having the lamp with you. You will be surprised at the things that will end up looking great that you might never have considered, and it will save you lots of running back and forth, buying and returning, or settling for something that is okay because you just don't want to go back to the store again! LOL

The other thing would be to keep the base and take out the lamp parts, making it into a decorative accessory to sit on a shelf or table or by the hearth.

Thanks everybody I really appreciate the opinions and input here.

The shade that is currently on there isn't for this lamp and never was. We needed a tall lamp and DH had this one from growing up, but didn't have a shade for it, so this one was taken from another lamp and put on there and the intention was that it was temporary until we found another lamp. Since then it has grown on me as the height is perfect for sitting and reading and the color goes well with what we have. It is a simple shape (which I like) and DH no longer sees a need to replace it (why I said he's married to it). So hence moving on to the shade.

It does sound like a good idea to bring it with me, but there just aren't any options for me to shop around where we live (out in the country) I'll have to use that as a back-up plan.

I appreciate the pics posted too as it got me to go looking at some of the stores selling lights to try to imagine what things looks like.

I'm leaning towards my #2 choice right now after browsing around, with a shorter height. Around 12". I like the idea of burlap, but wonder if it will go with what we have. Linen shade is my back-up.

If I get a linen - I'd like a non-cream color and not bright white, but so far I've not been able to find that.

I lucked out and ran into a Pottery Barn next to where my daughter was attending a Birthday party. Ran over and got this one. A tapered drum in linen, with a natural linen color. The 2nd pic is more true in color. What do y'all think?

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I think the height of the shade is fine, and the color is great. Unfortunately, I think it is too wide for the lamp.

I actually think that since these lamps historically took overscaled shades(although more in height than width), its okay. Its a tad wide but I think that a size down might look too small. If you went much narrower, you would have to go taller again like in the paired lamps shown above. The shade you have is a more current interpretation than the taller one.

Here is a distance shot (excuse the mess)
{{!gwi}}

Here is a smaller size, but I didn't like it doesn't use a harp or the fabric on it. could get another style in somewhat similar size.
{{!gwi}}

In the pics I think the smaller looks better, in person I'm fine with the larger and the smaller looks a little skimpy, but that could be because I'd gotten so used to the monster shade.

The larger one allows the light to spread more.

I agree that the smaller one might be a bit skimpy and the finish isnt as nice as the larger one.

Thanks for all the input everybody and palimpsest - I really appreciate your advice. How do you know all the info about time periods and what is appropriate etc.?

The smaller one is going back. The finish probably is off in the pic as it still has the plastic wrapped around it, but still the larger one looks nicer finish wise.

I have a degree in interior design and it involved a number of "period" projects, and I was told I was the most research oriented person that ever went through the program. I was doing patient based pharmaceutical and device related research at the time so the research thing rubbed off. I also have hundreds of architecture and design-related books both 'of the period' or about the period, and I tend to be a sponge when it comes to that kind of information. I don't always remember my phone number or exactly how old I am, but design history ends to stick.

I know the feeling Pal. I'm pretty much like the absent minded professor. Sounds like you're the same.
I also like the larger of the last two shades posted.

Thanks Pal for sharing that and I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with everybody on here as I feel I always learn something from you.

Thanks B!

I know you've already found a shade, but I finally caught my neighbor at home and took pictures of one of her lamps. I just thought you might like to see how similar they are to yours, but I think yours may be taller.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

marti - thanks for sharing and how nice of your neighbor to let you. They do look like they are relatives at least to ours. Very similar.