Shades of Taos hand makes rawhide lamp shades in standard sizes and special order.  All shades come with top and bottom lacing.  They can also be side laced and/or side painted.  Rawhide shades are listed and measured by top diameter, vertical height and slant height.  The bottom diameter is highlighted for easier location and comparison.  Shades with a curve from top to bottom are noted with a "C" before the top diameter.  The method of attachment, recommended bulb wattage and number of vertical ribs are listed next.  The standard frame color on shades with spider attachment is light cream.

Prices - Prices for standard shades are in the first pricing column.  Prices for vertically laced ribs (with four (4) vertical ribs laced) are listed next.  Prices for side-painted shades will vary with complexity and style from simple to complex.  Please inquire about prices on shades with both side lacing and side painting.  Your design ideas and patterns are welcome for custom orders.  Custom orders usually require six to eight weeks for delivery and special order charges begin at plus 40% for the same size shade.

Mounting - Standard rawhide lampshades come with candle (CC) or edison (EC) bulb clips up to 10" bottom diameter.  All other sizes have a washer and a dropped spider (D-C) of 1" unless special ordered.  Before ordering a different spider drop on a standard shade, we recommend that, when possible, you first change the height of your lamp's harp.  Additional uno (UNO) mounts are available on special request and pricing.

Wattage - We do not recommend high wattage for most rawhide shades.  Please note the shade sizes with definite wattage limitations.  A rule of thumb for wattage and bulb distance from the rawhide is:  20 watts should be at least 1" from the skin; 25 watts, at least 1 1/2"; 40 watt, at least 2 1/2"; 60 watts, at least 4"; 75 watts, at least 5".  Using over a 75 watt bulb will generally detract from the natural lighting effect of a rawhide skin.

Painting - Side painted styles range from simple brands to multiple figure and more complex designs.  Designs include traditional southwestern, cowboy, ranch, petroglyph, spirit figures, animals, Mimbres patterns, plains buffalo, teepees, kachinas, yeiis and more.  Most of these designs are available in black, brown, rust, turquoise, or multiple colors.  Please specify style and color when ordering.

Upon special request, we also produce oval, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal shades.

Care - We recommend using the correct wattage for your size shade to extend the life of each rawhide shade.  Also, please spray and wipe clean each shade, inside and out, with a leather conditioner at least once a year.  Use a leather conditioning product such as "Tannery" one to three times a year, depending upon your climate's humidity and the wattage bulb you use.  The drier the climate and/or the higher the wattage bulb you use, then the more often you need to recondition the skin.

Shade Specifications and Price List