This is one gorgeous arc lamp. I'm very impressed with the look, quality and substantial construction. The shade is not too overwhelming, especially if there are other floor lamps in the space. The light is perfect for reading, yet it provides good ambient illumination too. Assembly was easy thanks to clear instructions. The only thing that could be improved is the quality of the wrench included to tighten the nut and washer to attach the stem to the base - it was too flimsy and I wound up using my own tools. Other than that, it's a winner.