This is either a case of cheap construction or "this is why we can't have nice things." Two weeks into owning this lamp, a neighbor's 5-year old accidentally knocked it over. The lampshade promptly broke - two of the three spokes on the lamp ring snapped right off the outer ring, I suspect due to inadequate soldering at the joints. I owned a different tripod lamp years ago that weathered a lot more abuse from young kids; I don't know if it was better made or if I was just lucky. Either way: this was a bummer.