An Empire shade is a lampshade with straight, sloping sides that taper evenly from a wide base to a narrower top, giving a truncated cone profile. It is one of the most classic and widely used lampshade shapes, suited to table lamps, standard lamps, candlestick lamps and wall lights, and its name refers loosely to the elegant forms associated with the French Empire style.
The Empire shape works particularly well with traditional lamp bases such as columns, balusters, candlesticks and vase forms, because the gentle taper echoes their proportions while directing light downwards and outwards. Empire shades are made in a wide range of materials, including silk, linen, cotton, card and parchment, and they may be plain, pleated, gathered, trimmed with braid or fringe, or lined in a contrasting colour. When choosing a shade, its base diameter is usually roughly equal to the height of the lamp base, though this varies with the style of the piece, and the fitting must suit the lamp holder or shade carrier. A well-chosen Empire shade in a natural fabric can transform an antique lamp base, giving it a balanced, finished appearance in a period or modern interior.
