Have a lamp store check to be sure it doesn't need to be rewired. I'd go with a black shade with gold inside. Lampshade should end just above coconut. A complementary finial will finish it off. Nice lamp.

definitely red silk, it's classic. And remove the giant keys from the wall.

I agree with this lamp with red silk...but the kerosene lamp with the huge nut on top is not attractive at all.

why not use the shade that was original to the lamp and have it electrified?

Perhaps a crystal shade would work... saw a lot of these in New Orleans.

Thanks to those who have commented so far and provided ideas. I like the idea of red lampshade but it would not work in the my room that has rust/orangey tones. Black with gold inside sounds like a good option to explore. I'm sorry I wasn't clear in my initial posting. The lamp no longer uses oil; it was 'electrified' a couple of generations ago.

A lamp store (or you) can retrofit a more modern harp and bulb socket if you like....it doesn't cost much. Gold inside with sheen inside the shade will reflect light up and down. And, black goes everywhere as an accent color (even if you repaint your walls).I have a WW2 shell casing lamp with black out/gold in. The shade casts a nice light in the bedroom and the black does not overpower the base, which is the most important part of the lamp. If you go with the original style glass lamp shade with hurricane, it will be more of a "nightlight," not casting much light around other than ambient light. Good luck!

as original-glass shade and chimney.

Thanks kennedytarheel, updating the harp and sockets is a great idea.

http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Leather-Shade-9x18x13-Spider/dp/B0000DKNF3

You're welcome Brenda. That would allow you to alter the height of the lamp OR the height of the shade (harps come in all heights). My family is in the antique business (30 years strong) and we restore lamps to be useful in today's world. I suspect that what you love about the monkey lamp is the monkey (not the shade)...a good lamp store will have other ideas about what type of shade will compliment the monkey and not overpower it. We generally shy away from white shades because: 1. white is boring, 2. white stands out and distracts from the base many times, and 3. there are so many interesting grasses, blacks with colors inside like gold. The monkey is precious.

Here are some links to similar, but new, monkey lamps with black/gold shades: http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/dimond-d2477-aston-bissau-bronze-one-light-table-lamp-1450472.htm?partid=googlePLA-DataFeed-TableLamps-1450472&kpid=1450472 or http://www.polyvore.com/theodore_alexander_monkey_table_lamp/thing?id=89002893 A lamp almost exactly like your lamp was sold thru 1stdibs.com. Here is the link. You will see the link to the antique dealer that sold it. If you contact them, I'll bet they will give you the value. https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/table-lamps/kerosene-lamp-monkey-coconut/id-f_733429/

Thanks again, kennedytarheel. I love the black with gold interior examples and will definitely be heading to my lamp store this week for harp replacement and a new shade. I heard back form the antique dealer and they stated they sold the lamp a few years ago for $1200. Loving my funky monkey lamp more than ever!

Brenda, I knew you would. Enjoy it and make sure to put it in a prominent place!