I see great potential for these lamps. They have great lines! :) I think you could paint the bases of the lamps a high-gloss white. Then you could do some type of etching on the inserts where the candlestick bulbs are.

You could take one of the lamps to a store and try out other shades, but DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get rid of the original shades. You can always recover the shades in fabric or paint the shades to update them.

Hope my suggestion is helpful. You must post after pics! :)

Those already look like something from Anthropologie!

Leave the base as is....and add a black shade, a black shade with gold inside

Or/And

Add a gel or some sort of patterned window film on the glass....

They are awesome lamps! I'd either look for new shades (or decorate the existing ones) or do something fun to the bases (spray paint white or turquoise or...?). What a lucky save!

You could paint the metal part glossy black and line the glass part with a pretty see-through paper...that way you get the light from inside but don't see the hardware. I would have to see the lamp shade on the lamp...I would use them if possible. You can always line them with fabric too.

i see beaded shades in multiple colors, with dangling crystals.

Unless there is something wrong with the finish on the bases, don't paint them! I can see these working with brightly colored and patterned shades, depending on the other colors in your room.

I think you could paint the bases white, or blacken the brass. (you might have to remove a clear coat first.)
Here's a link about that: http://www.modelboatyard.com/blackening.html

Wait until you're finished with the brass part before you decide what kind of glass would look best in the inserts or what to do with the shade.

I think the bases are fine, just recover the shades in a fun print and you're good to go.

Don't paint them, you can do that with cheap lamps that cannot be rescued but these have good lines and a nice patina. A black cut corner square shade or a black plain square shade would look great, maybe with a ribbon trim in a color you like (no pastels of course).

By square shade I don't mean rectangular, just the typical trapezoidal-looking one.

I'd say, like others have, just change the shades a bit. The ones you have seem fine-- a good size & shape-- but would be more interesting if you recovered them in a fun fabric, or even just ran an interesting ribbon around the top & bottom.... or you could do something like this previous AT suggestion for something maybe more subtle: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/diy/how-to-make-a-lampshade-with-a-secretfrom-sunset-magazine-052365

These are great lamps - I wouldn't change the bases at all!

If anything, you might consider larger shades - perhaps in a color that would coordinate w/ the other furnishings in your room. You can get semi-custom shades for a very reasonable price here:

http://www.fenchelshades.com/

I like them as they are...to me they have a very steampunk feel...for that reason I would suggest using no lamp shade and incorporating an interesting vintage-style light bulb instead...
like one of these:

1910 replica bulb

Victorian replica bulb

1890 replica bulb

I envision black (lined with gold metallic) shades with a more angular feel... Or maybe a bright color like coral or turquoise...

Leave the brass.

MAYBE you could use stained glass paint on the glass inserts in the base, and change them to more of an amber or other plain color... or designs, if you want "funk". (Mendhi motifs form India might be fun in multiple colors...)

I have to admit at first I hated them. After reading all the creative submissions, I'm liking them now. How about a seagrass lampshade from ballard designs: http://www.ballarddesigns.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=10329&fromNewSearch=true&mercadoResultId=45

I'd try to leave them unpainted but maybe put in those flicker lightbulbs in the base? Could be fun. Otherwise I do like the idea of them in white as well, but that would be very nautical.

These lamps are great for storing pot.

Take a look at the lamp on Color Splash, http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/south-of-the-border-family-room/pictures/index.html It's about midway down.

He painted the lamp glossy blue, put shade material in the inserts, and added a black drum shade.

Thanks so much for the helpful and encouraging advice everyone! I'm excited about getting started now.

wally3 is onto something. I think that would look great. I'm with those who urge you to leave the base as it. Is the glass in the base faceted? It sort of looks as though it has four faces that are gently angled. Maybe that's just the way the light falls in the photos. Anyway, the bases are great as is.

Great lamps - they have a touch of the Moroccan about them, which is a hot new look.

Do not, under any circumstances, paint them. I can see them with oversized drum shades, say a foot tall and two feet in diameter, in a plain colour that matches your decor.

I would either use 'metal darkening liquid' to darken the bases just a bit more so they're uniform (top with a white drum shade) or paint them a matte white (and top with a dark brown or black drum shade painted gold inside to help reflect more light).

Good lord, don't paint them.

Go for a funky shade in a bright color and odd shape - a squat, oval, for example. Navy blue, perhaps - these lamps look somewhat nautical.

i'm not sure why no one has suggested this yet but if these lamps are quite large you could turn them into end tables. Add a table top (with a whole in the middle) which will sit on the large flat area and extend it out so it's a usable surface. Maybe brass or a dark wood. Then shorten up the shades a bit. I love the steampunk idea, they've got great potential for something fabulous with little accents here and there. Don't make it another boring paint & paper job.