FAQ

(Also see our Hardware Glossary.)

Art Glass: Hand-rolled, translucent layers of molten colored glass. Art glass shades cast an incomparable warm and intimate glow, as seen in lantern-style lighting and on handmade Tiffany-style shades.

Billiard: Pool-table lights. These also work nicely over kitchen islands or counters.

Bowl-Light Fixture: These fixtures have three or four chains or rods that extend from the canopy and attach to a bowl shade, usually with gravity hooks.

Canopy: The part of a fixture that actually mounts to the ceiling or wall and covers the junction box to which the fixture attaches.

Chandelier: A broad term for a hanging ceiling fixture that has multiple arms or lights. (Also see: Bowl-Light Fixture.)

Cased Glass: Shade finish that gets its name from fused layers of different glass. Usually, colored glass is outside and white glass is inside, to help cast bright light downward. Commonly used on cone shades.

Etched Glass (aka frosted glass): Shade finish with a "foggy" sort of appearance that reduces glare and softens light.

Fitter: The "lip" part of a glass shade or globe that attaches to the shade-holder part of the fixture. Common fitter sizes (diameters) are 2-1/4" 3-1/4", 4" and 6". Typically, the fitter measures slightly less than these dimensions.

Flush: A fixture that is close to the ceiling or wall and does not have rods or arms leading to the sockets. (Also see: Pan)

Low Ceiling: Fixtures for ceilings that are eight feet or lower.

Pendant: Typically a single pole or chain extending from the ceiling canopy - usually with one light.

Pan: A ceiling fixture that has a much larger canopy covering the junction box and a minimum of two lights. (Also see: Shower)

Satin Opal: Shade finish that is etched to further soften and diffuse an opal shade's light.

Sconce: In general terms, this includes any wall fixture - although the purist definition would define only a candle-style wall bracket.

Shade-holder: The part or parts of a fixture into which the "fitter" of the glass shades or globes fit. Most shade-holders have three or four screws that hold the shade in place. Common shade-holder sizes are the same as "fitter" sizes, although they often measure slightly larger than the dimensions listed.

Shiny Opal: Translucent, glossy milk-white glass that produces an evenly diffused glow, which also helps mask the bulb inside the shade. Very popular, and common to painted shades and schoolhouse-style shades.

Shower: These are fixtures with a ceiling pan and either chains or rods extending from the pan to the sockets. (At the minimum length; also see: Pan)

Tinted Glass: Shade finish that adds rich and subtle color to the light from frosted shades.

Vanity: Wall brackets suitable for the bathroom.

Wall Bracket: All of our wall fixtures are included in this category. (Also see: Sconce)