Banker Desk Lamp Styles

The look of the traditional bankers desk lamp is timeless: a green, hooded, and down-facing lampshade; a slender metal pull chain; and a thin stem leading down to a weighted metal base. But contemporary bankers lamp styles are changing in interesting ways, and are suitable for a myriad of non-banking tasks. Here's the market report on banker desk lamp styles.

The Classic Banker Desk Lamp Design
Why the lampshade of traditional banker desk lamps is green is one of those odd little mysteries of design. Perhaps it's because even when their tired eyes strayed, the green shade made dutiful banking clerks think of money.

Classic bankers desk lamps are clearly designed with usefulness in mind. The hooded shade reduces glare and focuses the light on the desk surface where it's needed. The base is also small enough to fit on a cluttered desk. And the pull chain, though now a quaint design element, makes it easy to turn the lamp on and off.

Contemporary Bankers Desk Lamps
Contemporary banker desk lamps retain some of these design elements, but usually include features that make the lamps more ergonomic and aesthetically modern. Contemporary banker lamps are often made from white/frosted glass and steel. Retro styles such as Art Deco are also popular.

Some modern bankers desk lamps forego the hooded shade in favor of a flat and clear glass shading. Dual or curved stems can also lend a more modern air.

Today's banker lamps, like the banking industry itself, are even loosening up a bit. Glass panel shades that display the logos of professional sports teams have become a popular bankers desk lamp feature in recent years. NFL-themed banker lamps look especially good when used in conjunction with a home bar or old-fashioned poker table.