It's beautiful... but I wouldn't paint it! How about putting a really funky shade on it instead (maybe a really cool, colorful modern fabric)? That would be really easy to do yourself, and would really jazz up the lamp.

This is totally the style of rescued lamps we have in our home. I would not paint that glass, and I'd leave the brass alone, it's pretty awesome as it is. I think the base is simple enough to carry a really great lampshade from anthropologie - watch for sales, the lampshades almost always go on sale (full price is usually totally unreasonable).

where did you get this lamp? Seriously, i think it was from my grandma's house...

I agree with the other comments-- put down the can of paint !!! It is a great find. think carefully before deciding anything.

I would not paint it at all. Its a beautiful vintage lamp and all you need to do is to clean it Try cleaning the brass with half a lemon and some salt and a soft cloth. If you want to jazz it up I agree do it with the shade although I think it would be beautiful with a traditional sllk shade. around here there are lamp shops you can take you old lamps to to get rewired and get a new shade. they advise you of the type that fits with your lamp.

Also, you might want to rewire it, the kits are cheap ($5-$10?) and usually it's a fairly easy DIY.

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=B20984266&catId=HOME-LIGHTING&pushId=HOME-LIGHTING&popId=HOME&navCount=567&color=030&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=HOME-LIGHTING-SHADES

I think this green shade would look really great (although it's hard to tell what your room color scheme currently is).

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=19971944&catId=HOME-LIGHTING&pushId=HOME-LIGHTING&popId=HOME&navCount=567&color=012&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=HOME-LIGHTING-SHADES
This is borderline twee, but in the right context could be great.

Or I could see a bold jewel tone silk shade in red, emerald, navy, etc. I would vote circular rather than rectangular, but that's just me. Also, this is my third post, I'm done I promise, I just <3 lamp.

No paint. Modern shade. If I was desperate to change it for some reason I would consider aluminum-leafing the brass parts but gold is back right now anyway so you might want to wait and decide how you feel.

No paint! No paint! it's gorgeous! if you hate it without painting it, then I call first dibs on it as is!!

Agreed, square shade, or even better, a black pagoda shaped shade would be awsome.

Don't paint it, just get some brasso and clean it up. And a modern shade.

I'd leave it as is and not polish the brass - It may get too shiny. I think that the tarnished brass looks good with the glass. a shade in your choice of colour (but not a bright colour) with some texture in the shape of the one in the athropologie link would look good.

I'd clean the brass, but be prepared to see that it's probably pitted. Leave the glass alone. Re-wire it for sure, because it looks dangerous.

Anthropologie shade.

Great find!!!!!! Leave it as it..but cleaned up carefully and there are posters in the knowsters on here ..with great shade ideas..modern!

Leave it as is and get a really cool black shade

Please be very careful so you do not destroy the patina on the lamp. Yes to modern shade though.

clean it up a bit, and top it with a black shade.

To reiterate:
Clean it (not the brass). Rewire it. Funky black shade.

Another vote for NO PAINT and LEAVE THE PATINA alone! I'm not against painting something, but not for this lamp!

Assuming it's solid brass, don't paint it. Take it apart, rewire it, clean the glass parts REALLY well and get a statement shade. If it's crappy brass finish over white metal, then I say paint away! I'd go with black myself.

we painted 2 thrift store lamps earlier this year: http://1088churchill.blogspot.com/2011/06/lighting-side-project-part-3.html. maybe it will give you some ideas? i'm not sure about painted glass-i'd definitely remove the base though.

I think some brasso and no paint and depending on your style, a modern shade, something fairly plain and dramatic (black would definitely work). I love the cut glass, it is really different. Maybe you can put it somewhere where it will catch some natural light too, could look really amazing.

Definitely don't paint. I like the idea of that green anthro shade linked above, or a rectangular ivory shade.

My first thought was also "no paint!" Later thoughts were the same.

Just to ad my voice to the chorus, "DON'T PAINT IT!" It's pretty fabulous as is. Rewire it, clean it up a little (leave a little of the patina of age), then top it off with a fitting shade. I'd suggest a black silk shade with gold leaf on the inside, or to really modernize it, hot pink.

I say paint every other diamond on the glass light blue or some bright color. tho I agree with the idea of not painting if you can avoid it. maybe you can get some colored adhesive sheet? like a vynal wrap or something.

Its beautiful! Clean it up, re-wire if needed, But for the love of *%#*, DON'T PAINT IT! If you paint it you might as well throw it in the garbage.

In my opinion, DEFINITELY don't paint the glass. If you're looking to funky it up or modernize it, I'd recommend painting the brass parts, and leaving the glass and marble as they are. For paint colors maybe a sunny yellow, glossy black, or last year's popular hue "robin's egg blue"?

I second the brasso. I have seen lots of good lamp re-works on Better After, and sometimes a punchy red or green on the brass can change the whole feel. I like the lamp as is, but if you're going to paint the brass only, I would go for a contrasting color that would be a quirky surprise in your home.

No paint! For an elegant look get a cut glass shade,

OMG my parents had two of those when I was a kid.

Clean it up and get it rewired. It would be stunning with any plain, traditional shade, but you seem to want something dramatic so I recommend an opaque cardstock shade lined with gold foil -- a look that is traditional enough to suit the lamp, but forgotten enough to be fresh and flashy enough to be dramatic. I agree with the recommendations for a square or rectangular shape, although a cylinder wouldn't be a tragedy either. Black or taupe would be good but if that isn't ironic enough for you, try this stunning purple one:

http://housetoyourhome.com/2011/11/10/lined-lampshades/

Wow! I found a lamp similar to that. But instead of glass, it's more solid brass (it weighs a ton). After a good cleaning, it looks stunning with a a new shade.

I have an almost Identical lamp that I got from a garage sale for about $4 and have been trying to decide what to do with it. I am loving all of these ideas. I will have to try them myself

Sarah, I think you get the picture. DON'T PAINT THE LAMP. It's a pretty awesome lamp as-is :-)

Let me add voice to the chorus of PLEASE DON'T PAINT A THING!

I agree, don't paint. The base appears to be thread-on and I suspect the glass is hollow. Apart from an interesting or bold shade and/or cord, you could swap out the base for something else or fill the glass with something like coloured aquarium sand. That would be far less permanent than painting and wouldn't affect the patina.

Just simply add a shade (& re-wire if needed). I would do a drum shade. The juxtaposition of a square base & round shade would be spot on. Black or white, keep it simple, the base speaks for it's self.

You can rewire it pretty easily and put a nice lamp shade on it. Filling the glass with aquarium sand type material could be really cool I guess, but it all depends on the look you're going for. I suppose you could paint the brass, since you can always remove the paint in the future, but then again you could just take some metal polish to the brass and shine it up.