You can tell a lamp’s quality by looking out for giveaway details. If a table lamp is high quality, it will feel sturdy and well-balanced, even if it’s of a delicate design. There won’t be any hairline cracks, drips in the paint or other inconsistencies that aren’t deliberate design features. The lampshade fabric is another tell-tale sign of a lamp’s quality. A high-end table lamp might have a shade made of expensive fabric, like silk, while a cheaper lamp might have a shade made of polyester. A high-quality table lamp will have good wiring that meets all of the electrical safety standards. More attention to detail is put into designer table lamps, so the cord might be long for ease of movement around the room. The cord also won’t flex easily, as this can quickly damage the wiring.