I purchased this lamp around July 2014. It's beautiful and functional. I love the clean lines and antique look. It does not look like a cheap reproduction of a vintage lam; the price is quite reasonable for the quality. The black shade has a matte finish. You can tilt the shade to point up toward the ceiling, which is how I've currently oriented them. I used CFL bulbs, and they work great. I highly recommend this lamp. I bought the Draper gooseneck lamp in the same style as well.