Torchiere Floor Lamps

All about Torchiere Lamps   

The Torchiere floor lamp is tall, thin and has an inverted shade on top so that light shines toward the ceiling. There are many types of this lamp that range form the traditional to the contemporary design. “Torchiere” stems from “torchere”, a French word that means tall candelabrum. The term is also related to torche which means torch in French. The proper pronunciation for torchiere is tour-SHARE or tour-she-AIR.   

The Torchiere lamp has been used for a very long time. Its candlestick version appeared in  France in the late 17^th century. It was one candle that was mounted on a high stand. The designers found that the addition of a couple or more candles did a lot to improve the power of its illumination. The stand with several candles was seen as a major advancement, but due to using so many candles, the first Torchieres were top-heavy and more likely to topple.  

The late 1800s was the first time an electric Torchiere was used. These lamps most often had a metal or wooden stand that was frequently decorated in curving, intricate designs. The shades were glass that was frosted, stained glass, or opaque, providing some protection from the light bulb’s glare. Nowadays, the vintage Torchiere lamp brings a lot of attention from collectors, if the lamp is in fine condition.   

As you shop for your Torchiere lamp, you will find that there are a great many choices. Modern Torchiere lamps are just one of several variations of the basic floor lamps. The retro designs have stands and bases that have finishes of antique brass, steel patina, or brushed gold. The contemporary styles can be described as being brushed platinum, aluminum, or stainless steel. Many modern stands are made of a very strong resin that resembles metal.   

A Torchiere lamp may need fluorescent or halogen bulbs, depending upon recommendations from the manufacturer. The stand frequently will come with a dimmer switch or a mechanism by which one can control individual bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs flicker when they are dimmed due to the way they are designed. Halogen bulbs can be dimmed to any level the owner desires; however, with a halogen lamp comes the concern for fire danger. The Torchiere lamp’s inverted shade exposes the hot bulb, so it is critical to keep the lamp away from curtains or any other flammable material.   

Some of the materials used to make Torchiere lampshades include glass, alabaster, metal, and acrylic or plastic resin. The shades may be in a scalloped, geometric, stained-glass style, marbled glass bowl, or prairie-style shapes. You can even find one that looks like a futuristic, neon light. Your lamp can also be topped with a simulated torch. You can find a lamp to suit any taste or style by looking in department stores, lighting stores, or in online stores.