The right rawhide lamp shade can make a perfect lamp. But the 
wrong size shade can make a beautiful lamp look out of balance. 
And ordering the wrong size lampshade is inconvenient and 
expensive.  See how we choose the right shade for your lamp 
without seeing them together.

Mission Del Rey offers rawhide lamp shades for southwestern 
lighting and western lamps but the technique our buyers use will 
work with any lamp shade. Give it a try to help choose the right 
shade for your lamp even before you order. Follow this simple 
procedure and you will make the right choice the first time when 
taking advantage of great deals on the internet or when catalog 
ordering.

First, we need to understand how rawhide lampshades are measured. 
You will need three measurements, bottom diameter, top diameter 
and height. The height of a shade should be measured straight up 
and down vertically…not along the slant as some people do.

Measuring Tip #1: The reason we measure height up and down, 
"vertically" is that the height measurement of you lamp from 
bulb socket base to top of harp is probably the minimum vertical 
height you will want to cover with your shade. For example:  The 
slant may be 9" but the actual height only 6" which would leave 
3" your brass bulb socket exposed if you really need 9" inches in 
vertical height.

Measuring Tip #2: The height of your lamp can be adjusted with a 
shorter or taller harp to be able to use a standard lampshade 
rather than ordering a custom shade in many cases.  For example: 
Using a shorter harp lowers the shade on the lamp allowing you to 
use a shorter shade, while using a taller harp raises a taller 
shade on the lamp.

Now, here is the trick to ordering the right shade. You probably 
have an idea of the approximate size, so simply consult our list 
of standard rawhide lamp shade sizes or any shade outlet.  Select 
the shade size that you are considering. Each lampshade's 
measurements should be listed as described above.

Next, make a simple two-dimensional "flat" pattern the size of 
the shade out of paper or cardboard. For example, use the lower 
edge of the cardboard for the base line. Measure up the height 
of the shade and draw a horizontal line parallel to the base 
line which will represent the top edge of the shade. Now draw a 
vertical line straight up and down from base line or to the top 
edge line. If you imagine the base line, vertical line and top 
edge line as the capital letter "I" you are on the right track.

Then, mark the top and bottom dimensions of the shade on your 
pattern so that you get the correct slant for the edge of the 
shade. From the center line measure and mark the top diameter of 
the shade. If the top diameter is 5" then measure to the left and 
right of the center line along the top edge line 2.5" on both 
sides and make a mark. Those points are the top corners of your 
pattern. Repeat along the baseline using the shade's bottom 
diameter. If it seems confusing, it's really not, but very simple 
and quick. Consult the lamp shade measuring instruction and 
diagram on our website if you need help. 

Finally, If you will cut out the pattern and have someone hold it 
in place over the lamp, you will be able to step back and look. 
Even though it is flat, you will be able to get a feel for how 
the shade will look on your lamp and order with confidence.

It's not full proof but it is a quick and easy way to make sure 
that you are on the right track in your shade size selection. 
This simple idea has helped our rawhide shade clients save a lot 
of aggravation and money over the years and we trust it will 
benefit you too.  http://www.missiondelrey.com
 

Craig Chambers is the President of Mission Del Rey, an Arizona 
non profit organization preserving the culture of the Tarahumara 
Indians through traditional skills, offering hand laced rawhide 
lamp shades and rustic lamps for southwestern lighting, western 
lamps and décor. More information is available at 
http://www.missiondelrey.com