A bankers lamp is a desk lamp with a long, trough-shaped glass shade on a curved brass arm, a heavy base and, traditionally, a pull-chain switch. The shade is open underneath and closed on top, so the light falls on the desk and not into the eyes. It is the lamp of libraries, law offices and old bank counters, which is where the name comes from.
Where the design comes from
The classic bankers lamp dates from 1909, when Harrison D. McFaddin patented a desk lamp with a green glass shade, sold in the United States under the name Emeralite. The green shade became so common in offices and reading rooms that green is still the colour most people picture.
Why green, and what other colours exist
The original shades were green glass on the outside with a white lining inside. The white lining reflects the light down onto the page; the green outside was considered restful to the eyes. Today the same shape is made in other colours of glass.
- Green: the traditional library look.
- Blue: a deeper, more decorative colour. The Cobalt Glass Bankers Desk Lamp has a cobalt blue glass shade on a curved antique brass-tone arm and a stepped round base.
- Amber and white: warmer or more neutral alternatives.
The Cobalt Glass Bankers Desk Lamp in numbers
- Size: shade 26.5 cm wide, height 36 cm, base 18 cm
- Materials: blue glass shade, bronze-finish base
- Switch: pull chain
- Voltage: 90 to 260 V
How to choose a bankers lamp
- Shade width. The shade should be wide enough to light the area where you read or write. A shade of about 26 cm covers a notebook or a keyboard.
- Height. The bottom of the shade should sit below eye level when you are seated, so that you see the lit desk and not the bulb.
- Switch. A pull chain is the traditional choice and is easy to reach from a chair.
- Colour. Coloured glass glows when the lamp is on, so the shade is also a decorative object in the room.
Where to use one
On a desk, a console, a piano or a bedside table used for reading. A bankers lamp is a task light: it lights a surface, and it works best together with a softer general light in the room.
The bankers shade is one of several classic shapes. To compare it with drum, empire, dome and cone shades, see our guide to the types of lamp shades.
To compare the bankers lamp with stained glass and opal glass table lamps, and see how much space each takes on a desk or nightstand, read our guide to glass table lamps.
To compare the bankers lamp with stained glass, dome and cordless designs, and see how much of a 60 cm desk each one leaves free, read our guide to desk lamps. For more lamps with an old-fashioned look, from ribbed glass pendants to a tasselled velvet floor lamp, see vintage lamps and pendant lights.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a bankers lamp?
The design was widely used on bank counters and office desks in the early twentieth century.
Why are bankers lamps green?
The original 1909 design used a green glass shade with a white lining, and the colour became the standard.
Is a bankers lamp good for reading?
Yes. The shade directs the light down onto the desk and shields the eyes from the bulb.
See all models in our table lamps collection.
