If you look at the photo of the light it looks like you can see the ceiling through the top of the plate. Where the glass attaches to the metal plate it is solid. It just isn't a good photo. 
I first bought this same light under the Keener name. It cost more and when I came across the Penley brand, I returned the Keener and bough the Penley. They are almost identical, I think the only difference was the shape of the screws that hold the globe onto the metal parts. ( hope this makes sense.) The quality between the two is the same.
very happy with this purchase.