These shades have slightly inclined sides which gives them a more contemporary look and, depending on their size, are suitable for wall lights, table and floor lamps.

It is believed they are named after regimental drums that were used by soldiers to co-ordinate their marching pattern that was first adopted by the French during the Napoleonic years.

We make three styles of French drum – narrow, medium and wide.

They are all made with round shade rings that screw onto your shade beneath the bulb and are supplied with reducers to ensure a universal fit.

What size is your Wide French Drum Shade?

We make a range of 45cm Wide French Drum shades for large lamp bases and 45cm Pendant Wide French Drum shades for ceiling lights.

What fitting do your French Drums have?

Our French Drum shades are made from good quality white card that makes them self supporting.

They have a circular wire frame, as shown on the left, which sits at the bottom of the shade, with a second, same sized wire ring fitted to the top.

The shade ring - or 'gimble' - that fits the shade to your lamp base, is fixed around 4 to 6cm up from the bottom (depending on size) and is supplied with a reducer ring, as shown, that can be removed to ensure a universal fit.

What shade do I need for a ceiling light?

We offer a selection of our most popular sized French Drum shades with pendant fittings.

Pendant shades need a shade ring fitted at the top of the shade instead of at the bottom.

We can make any of our shades in any of our fabrics with a pendant fitting as a bespoke item.

Please contact our helpful sales team to discuss your requirements

How big should my shade be?

For useful information about sizing shades for a lamp base see our Knowledge Base guide:
How to Size Shades for a Table Lamp

The width of your shade should be equal to the height of your base.

The height of your shade should be two thirds the height of your base (divide the base height by 3).

Your shade should be wider than the widest part of your base

What size do I need for a floor lamp?

For useful information on sizing shades for floor lamps, see our Knowledge Base guide:
How to Size Shades for a Floor Lamp.

Measure the height of your floor lamp from the floor to the underneath of the bulb holder.

Divide this by 4 to get the right height of your shade.

The width of the shade should be wider than the base.

How much light will be let through?

Generally, the lighter the colour and weave of the fabric, the more light the shade will allow through.

The darker and heavier the fabric, the more the light is channelled through the top and bottom of the shade.

For useful information about fabrics andtheir use as shades, see our Knowledge Base guide: Lampshades FAQs

Can I use any of your fabrics?

Yes, we can make any of our Empire shades in any of our fabrics as a bespoke item.

Please contact our helpful customer service team to raise a quote.

Can I use my own fabric?

Yes, we can generally make any of our shades in your own fabric, we just ask that you send in a swatch first so that we can be sure it is suitable.

Fabrics with horizontal stripes do not work well on shades with sloped sides. Vertical stripes are generally ok, while fabrics with large patterns do not work well on small shades.

For more information, see our Knowledge Base Guide: Bespoke Lampshade Service

Jim Lawrence, The Ironworks
Lady Lane, Hadleigh
Suffolk, IP7 6BQ

Contact our friendly customer service team on
sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk

Speak to one of the sales team on
01473 826685
Our telephone lines are open:
Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5pm