LEARNING NAMES OF LAMP PARTS

Whether you call “it” that thingamabob on top, whatchamacallit that holds up the shade, or do-hickey I lost, invariably the conversation turns into a guessing game as to what “it” is that the distressed customer on the phone is describing to me. Worse yet, whenever I volunteer my helpful input, we inevitably find ourselves lost in a “Who’s on First, What’s on Second” routine. The call usually ends with my asking the customer to please email me a photo of the lamp part needed, and I will send it post-haste. Problem solved.

Sound familiar? Since lamps are fundamental fixtures in our interiors, and to avoid sounding like a crazy person, it is important that you know some basic terminology used when referring to their parts.

Surprisingly, you will recognize many of the terms as the same names that identify everyday objects. For example, the term “harp”; a musical instrument, right? Not always. Place the word “lamp” before it - “lamp-harp” - and you get a component that supports a shade on top of a lamp base.

Here is a basic glossary with photos I put together of lamp hardware that I think you will find informative and useful.