Spider Lamp Shades, Harps, and Finials

The phrase spider lamp shade conjures images of spooky lamp shades with spider designs all over them. A spider lamp shade is really just a lamp shade that has a certain type of fitting assembly. A spider fitting resembles a spider's body and at least three spider legs. Spider lamp shades are easy to remove for cleaning or replacing - and easy to put back afterwards.

The legs of a spider fitting go from the center piece - that compares to the spider's body - out to the shade. The spider fitting then attaches to another fitting that is attached to the lamp. A harp is the most common support fitting used with a spider lamp fitting though an Uno fitting (with stabilizer clips) that attaches near the light bulb base is also seen with spider fittings.

A harp for a spider lamp is shaped like an outline of a light bulb. The harp attaches to the lamp at the base of the light bulb assembly. It has a screw attached at the top. The center pierce of the spider lamp sits on top of the harp and a finial is then screwed on to hold the shade in place.

Finials are both practical and decorative. Finials provide a finishing touch that completes the appearance of the lamp. A finial for an early American style lamp, for example, would be shaped like an eagle. Glass prisms and globes are attached to some fancy finials - and some finials are smooth to provide an appearance of simple elegance.

Finials make it very easy to remove a spider lamp shade for cleaning or replacing. Make sure the lamp is turned off and cool because finials can get quite warm. Turn the finial counter-clockwise to unscrew it from the harp. Then the lamp shade can simple be lifted off of the lamp's harp fitting.

After the shade has been either cleaned or replaced, set the lamp shade back on the harp. The center of the spider fitting - the part mentioned above that resembles the body of a spider - should be centered over the screw of the harp. Put the finial back on the harp by turning it onto the harp screw and turning clockwise.