We love this lamp.  It is not your usual table lamp and we have had a lot of compliments on it.  That being said, you need to understand that there is NO shade as the picture shows, it appears that there must have been one in the past but there is no longer a shade.  The switch is on the cord and close enough that you can reach it from a chair by the table.  Very heavy and will take any A size bulb.  Shipped in a timely manner and packaged to survive.