Where to buy an oil lamp shade
Oil lamps have a very long history, nearly as long as that of candles, if not longer. The first recorded use of oil lamps was in the ancient world, at least back to 3500 BC. The simplest lamps consisted of sea shells filled with oil, stones, clay-shaped and fired to metal and glass. Even in the colonial era in the America featured oil lamps that could have been used in ancient Rome. The most iconic oil lamps are the whale oil lamps with glass lamp shades, which now use kerosene or modern lamp oil. Whether you have antique lamps or replica oil lamps, you can buy replacement oil lamp shades from various sources.
Replica oil lamp shades
If you wish to buy a replacement oil lamp shade, and you do not wish to have an old lamp shade, you can buy a replica lamp shade. This glass oil lamp shade can look like a shade that belongs to old oil lamps, yet be made in this century.
These lamp shades are available at your local hardware store, online, and perhaps, even at your local grocery store. These lamp shades are the least expensive options.
Auctions
Auctions can be good places to find oil lamp shades, especially if you have antique oil lamps. At auctions, you can find oil lamp shades from practically every era and style, from plain lamp shades to oil lamp globes. As an aside, auctions can also be good sources for oil lamp parts in addition to lamp shades. It can also be one of the most expensive places to find oil lamp shades.
Antique shops
Antique shops can also be good sources for lamp oil shades in that, just as with auctions, they can be good sources for period and antique oil lamp shades. Another plus is that the antique stores can work with you, thanks to a network of antique dealers to find what you want. The flip side is that, it may require more work to track down the specific lamp shade you require, or an antique store that is willing to work with you. It can also be among the most expensive options for buying an lamp shade.