Gilda Shallow Lamp Shade 20cm Glass - Smoked

A shallow dome of smoked glass, wide for its depth, with a shell effect worked through the surface that breaks up the light as it passes. The tint takes the glare off a clear lamp and softens what lands on the walls nearby, so the fitting can sit in eye line without being harsh. At 20cm across it reads as a small shade, nearer a saucer than a bowl, and the low profile keeps things close and neat rather than bulky.

We reach for a shade like this when a light needs calming rather than covering: a drop over a breakfast bar, a single pendant beside a bed, a short hall fitting where anything deeper would look top heavy. It suits anyone replacing dulled or chipped glass on a fitting they otherwise like, and it holds its own in a run above a long worktop where one shade on its own would look lost. We would choose a golf ball LED behind it, up to 20W, so the shape of the lamp stays part of what you see. Keep it to dry rooms indoors.

The glass is smoked through the body rather than tinted on the face, so the colour holds at the rim where a shade gets handled most. Unlit it reads as quiet smoke; lit, the shell texture gives a faint shimmer across the dome. For dust, a dry cloth is all it needs, and for fingerprints wait until the glass is cool, then use a barely damp cloth and nothing abrasive, since the textured surface will show scratching from a harsh pad. It carries a one year warranty. Lamps are not included.

What size is this shade?

It measures 200mm in diameter with a height of 70mm, giving a wide, shallow dome that stays compact under a fitting.

Which lamp should I use with it?

A golf ball LED is the one to go for, rated up to 20W. Because the glass is tinted rather than opaque, a neat lamp shape looks better than a large or oddly shaped one.

Is it an electrical item?

No, it is a non-electrical shade. The lamp holder, flex and wiring all belong to the host fitting it goes onto.

How much light does the smoked glass hold back?

Enough to soften a clear lamp and cut its glare, while still letting light through. Expect a gentler, warmer pool than you would get from an untinted shade.

How do I keep the shell effect looking its best?

Dust it dry, and only ever clean it once the glass is cool. Put a little glass cleaner on the cloth rather than straight onto the shade, and avoid scouring pads on the textured face.

How heavy is it?

It weighs 0.7kg, which is typical for a small glass shade of this depth.