Glossary of Terms - Lighting

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Accent Lamp: Portable lamp that usually has a shade from 9" to 14" wide and height no taller than 24".

Adjustable Lamp: Portable lamp that has an adjustable height or width or shade position.

Bankers Lamp: Portable desk lamp with an oblong shade that is usually adjustable.

Base: Stabilizing body of a lamp constructed from various materials such as metal, brass, porcelain, resin or wood.

Beveled Glass: Clear glass, with edges that have been ground and polished to an angle other than 90 degrees.

Billiard or Oblong Pendant: Rectangular or oval shaped shade that is typically suited for suspension over a billiard table, kitchen island or counter.

Bridge Arm Lamp: Table or floor lamp with an arm supporting a single shade.

Buffet Lamp: Portable lamp, usually tall and slender and suitable for use on a buffet, with height generally no taller that 36".

Canopy: The part of a fixture that mounts to the ceiling or wall and covers the junction box to which the fixture attaches.

Cathedral Glass: Transparent single color sheet glass, with smooth or textured surfaces.

Chandelier: Surface mounted ceiling fixture with lighted arms.

Copperfoil: Narrow strips of copper tape used to wrap the edges of glass pieces that have been cut to fit a pattern. When wrapped, solder is applied, bonding the glass pieces together.

Desk Lamp: Portable lamp, usually with a downward task light.

Etched Glass: The use of hydrofluoric acid or sand blasting to create a matte finish or a specific design on glass.

Fan Light: A glass shade that can be used on a ceiling fan.

Finial: Decorative detail on the top of a lamp or the very bottom of a chandelier.

Finish: The decorative color of hardware achieved by painting or plating base or fixture materials.

Fireplace Screen: Decorative screen that covers the opening of a fireplace while not in use.

Firescreen: Functional fireproof screen that covers the opening of a fireplace while in use.

Fixture: Complete lighting unit usually consisting of socket, housing, shade, and connection to electrical power.

Floor Lamp: Portable lamp with a shade that directs light downward and a height usually taller than 48".

Flushmount: Surface mounted ceiling fixture with three inches or less between the shade and the ceiling.

Glass Jewel: Piece of hot glass that is press-molded into a jewel like shape.

Glue Chip Glass: Texture created on the surface of glass by applying hot glue, which after drying contracts and chips the glass surface resulting in a natural pattern, like frost on a window pane.

Granite Glass: A texture with the appearance of granite that is applied to hot glass sheets with an embossed roller.

Hand Rubbed: Process of hand rubbing to achieve a desired finish.

Hardware: Any component that supports the shade and/or socket.

Inverted Pendant: Chain hung ceiling fixture with open end of shade facing toward the ceiling.

Iridescent Glass: Glass with a colorful shimmering effect created when a layer of metallic oxide is bonded to hot glass.

Island Pendant: Ceiling fixture, usually multishaded, horizontally hung and generally best suited for a kitchen island or billiard table.

Jadestone: Durable, compact thinly cut stone with luminous color that can be shaped and constructed with the copperfoil technique.

Mica: A natural mineral bonded with shellac to create a light diffuser, usually available in Silver or Amber colors.

Micro Mini Lamp: Portable table lamp that usually has a shade 4" or smaller and height no taller than 6".

Mini Lamp: Portable table lamp that generally has a shade of 4" to 8" wide and height usually no taller than 15".

Mini Pendant: Surface mounted one light fixture consisting of a single pole or chain, extending from the ceiling canopy with shade no larger than 10" in diameter.

Mini Window: Lighted miniature tabletop glass window suspended from a frame.

Night Light: Small portable light that plugs directly into an electrical outlet.

Opalescent Glass: Glass that incorporates white, or opal glass, into the color mix.

Patina: Coloration of metal finish due to aging or from a solution applied to metal to change its color.

Pendalog: Element that hangs from a shade, base or hardware, usually crystal but can be made of various materials.

Pendant: Ceiling fixture that usually features a shade larger than 10" in diameter, suspended by a single pole or chain extending from the ceiling canopy.

Reverse Painted Glass: Paints are applied to the underside of glass, starting with the foreground and ending with the background.

Ripple Glass: Texture that has the appearance of ripples that is applied to hot glass sheets with an embossed roller.

Sconce: Typically, a one or two light fixture surface mounted to a wall.

Sculpture: A lighted or unlighted decorative tabletop accessory.

Seedy Glass: Glass which contains trapped air bubbles, created with air or gas injected into the molten glass, prior to forming the sheet.

Semi Flush: Surface mounted ceiling fixture with three inches or more between the shade and the ceiling.

Shower: Fixture with a ceiling pan that usually suspends 3 or more pendants.

Stained or Art Glass: Colored glass.

Swag: Pendant or chandelier with chain and wire that can drape across a ceiling to reach a hard mounted electrical box or plug into an electrical outlet.

Table Lamp: Portable lamp usually with a shade having a 14” width or larger.

Tiffany:
A) Style referring to Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian or scenes of nature.
B) The copperfoil technique of stained glass assembly.
C) Opalescent glass invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany 1848-1933, son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, an American jeweler.

Torchiere: Portable floor lamp with a shade that directs light upward.

Translucent Glass: Glass that allows light transmission while diffusing. Objects cannot be seen clearly through this glass.

Turtleback: Molded glass tiles that are usually irregular in shape and thickness.

Vanity: Surface mounted wall fixture with three or more lights, usually used in the bathroom.

Washed: Process of lightly applying an accent finish by hand.

Wispy Glass: Mixed opalescent glass with thin wisps of white or clear glass.

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