Upgrading an Original Torch Fixture with a New Globe and a New Light Bulb
What the Fixture Had Become
Bringing a New Look to an Old Fixture and Its Room
In its foyer -- its formal entry space -- this home had a light fixture mounted at the lower end of the bannister for the main staircase. That’s not uncommon in homes built when this one was, at the turn of the last century. It’s a good place to have some light to make the stairs more visible, to serve as a night light or security light, and to help make the space more inviting, for both guests and family.
What’s unusual about this one is that it isn’t mounted on the top of the newel post. The newel post is built into the third step up. The fixture is a post light, or torchiere, mounted on a pedestal that’s even with the second step up. To help keep it steady and solid when the kids swing on it or Grandma grabs it for support, it has a custom-made bracket that secures it to the top of the newel post.
Originally, I’m told, this fixture had a shade made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. That had disappeared, possibly broken, a few decades ago. And the repairs, while they kept the functions of night light and security lighting, did not necessarily make the space as inviting or interesting as the original had.
The Tiffany globe had been replaced with a plain white globe, so there was now just a lighted white ball on the top of the fixture. Then, a few years ago, the owners had installed a CFL light bulb in it. The result looked utilitarian, inexpensive and uninviting.
A Better Globe
Searching online quickly revealed that we weren’t likely to find an exact replacement for the original shade. Closed decorative shades with a 4” fitter (the diameter of the opening where the shade is attached to the fixture) turned out to be rare. An original Tiffany piece, if one could be found, would most likely cost more than $4,000, and that wasn’t in the budget. Even a leaded glass closed shade the right size didn’t turn up.
We considered some globes with etched or painted detailing that evoked the early 20th century. Those were better than what was there, but we looked a little further. Then, just searching for “glass shade 4” fitter,” we spotted a flame-shaped piece. Wait a minute, we thought. This is a torchiere, right? The shade and the light bulb point up, right? What about making it look like an actual torch?
After running it past the people who could make the decision, that’s what we got. And the good news was that it didn’t cost $4,000. In fact, it cost less than $50.
The New Shade with the Old Bulb
Have you ever seen a torch burning with a blue flame? Well sure, but with a steady blue light?
The shade looked great when the light wasn’t on, but this light was always on. A different light bulb seemed to be needed.
In the neighborhood hardware store we found a two-pack of flame-shaped 6o watt halogen bulbs. They weren’t inexpensive and they aren’t the longest-lasting light bulbs available, but they were a good shape for the fixture and they gave off a nice warm light. As a nice touch, since they were halogen bulbs, they only used 43 watts of power.
What we hadn’t realized was that these bulbs were larger models of half of the light bulbs installed in the newly refurbished chandelier that hangs right above this post light.
Maybe that’s why they look so appropriate.
One of the new halogen bulbs got the fixture to look the way we wanted it to. Since they aren’t even as efficient or long-lasting as the bulb that we replaced, the search is on for a better replacement. That’s focusing on LED light bulbs, of course. With all the innovation and new products being offered in LEDs, it seems likely that something that works for this fixture will turn up before the two halogen bulbs we started with are used up.
Bringing a New Look to an Old Fixture and Its Room
In its foyer -- its formal entry space -- this home had a light fixture mounted at the lower end of the bannister for the main staircase. That’s not uncommon in homes built when this one was, at the turn of the last century. It’s a good place to have some light to make the stairs more visible, to serve as a night light or security light, and to help make the space more inviting, for both guests and family.
What’s unusual about this one is that it isn’t mounted on the top of the newel post. The newel post is built into the third step up. The fixture is a post light, or torchiere, mounted on a pedestal that’s even with the second step up. To help keep it steady and solid when the kids swing on it or Grandma grabs it for support, it has a custom-made bracket that secures it to the top of the newel post.
Originally, I’m told, this fixture had a shade made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. That had disappeared, possibly broken, a few decades ago. And the repairs, while they kept the functions of night light and security lighting, did not necessarily make the space as inviting or interesting as the original had.
The Tiffany globe had been replaced with a plain white globe, so there was now just a lighted white ball on the top of the fixture. Then, a few years ago, the owners had installed a CFL light bulb in it. The result looked utilitarian, inexpensive and uninviting.
A Better Globe
Searching online quickly revealed that we weren’t likely to find an exact replacement for the original shade. Closed decorative shades with a 4” fitter (the diameter of the opening where the shade is attached to the fixture) turned out to be rare. An original Tiffany piece, if one could be found, would most likely cost more than $4,000, and that wasn’t in the budget. Even a leaded glass closed shade the right size didn’t turn up.
We considered some globes with etched or painted detailing that evoked the early 20th century. Those were better than what was there, but we looked a little further. Then, just searching for “glass shade 4” fitter,” we spotted a flame-shaped piece. Wait a minute, we thought. This is a torchiere, right? The shade and the light bulb point up, right? What about making it look like an actual torch?
After running it past the people who could make the decision, that’s what we got. And the good news was that it didn’t cost $4,000. In fact, it cost less than $50.
The New Shade with the Old Bulb
Have you ever seen a torch burning with a blue flame? Well sure, but with a steady blue light?
The shade looked great when the light wasn’t on, but this light was always on. A different light bulb seemed to be needed.
In the neighborhood hardware store we found a two-pack of flame-shaped 6o watt halogen bulbs. They weren’t inexpensive and they aren’t the longest-lasting light bulbs available, but they were a good shape for the fixture and they gave off a nice warm light. As a nice touch, since they were halogen bulbs, they only used 43 watts of power.
What we hadn’t realized was that these bulbs were larger models of half of the light bulbs installed in the newly refurbished chandelier that hangs right above this post light.
Maybe that’s why they look so appropriate.
One of the new halogen bulbs got the fixture to look the way we wanted it to. Since they aren’t even as efficient or long-lasting as the bulb that we replaced, the search is on for a better replacement. That’s focusing on LED light bulbs, of course. With all the innovation and new products being offered in LEDs, it seems likely that something that works for this fixture will turn up before the two halogen bulbs we started with are used up.
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