These lamps are elegant and understated. They're the "good" kind of brass finish -- you know, the kind that doesn't look cheap. The lampshades are also good quality. I accidentally spilled some dark liquid (I think it was some kind of sauce) on one of them while I was moving (don't ask my how a bottle of sauce ended up in the same box as a pair of lampshades), but the sauce wiped RIGHT OFF easily without damaging the shades or staining the fabric, which I was really impressed by. Really happy with this purchase.