That is a wonderful find -- Congratulations!

I don't think a drum shade would look right in this fixture. You could replace the light fitting with a single-bulb fitting with a frosted glass globe. That would probably be the style that would fight the least with the iron frame, but it would not give you much light in the staircase. Or you could change out the sockets to black chandelier base sockets and use clear glass flame-tip bulbs.

It does look ideal for the kitchen, though. Is your ceiling high enough?

My kitchen ceiling height is shy of 10ft, so just. I think over an island it might have been okay, but I didn't really account for the actual pots and pans ... Oops... All things considered the foyer might be more of a wow.

I think it was meant for a hanging rack light fixture over an island in a kitchen. the pots etc would hide the bulbs.
If you removed the center section, where would lights go? How would you wire them?
I think I would use it as is and "trim" it....perhaps something....rolled netting...straw....raffia...around to be held by the hooks. And don't worry about the bulbs....put it on a dimmer and let it be. you don't worry about the bulbs in a chandeliere do you?
Great piece by the way....would be dynamite over an island with a few small copper pots and some baskets hanging.
Linda C

Could you have a circular piece of either frosted glass or plastic to fit and attach to the fixture below the bulbs?

I see a couple of ways you might consider.

If you like the idea of combining a drum shade, you could use a smaller drum inside the lamp, but I think it would have to be no taller than the outside frame part at the bottom, the area encompassed by the metal vertical straps.

Something like this:

pendant lamp

Otherwise, if you really appreciate all the negative space, then I think replacing the horizontal bulb fixture with something with traditional arms, that hangs inside the fixture, would be the way to go. This is just an example of the type of general feel - obviously you would need more arms, and would want different bulbs:

pendant light

Thanks for all the advice. I agree it would make a great kitchen piece. But while I deliberated over buying this fixture I found the over island light I was looking for, which is a billiard type pendant (3 lights)

I think the pictures were most helpful, I can now imagine a drum that won't ruin the piece totally. In the end I think I'll consider the best way to replace the sockets in favour of upright chandelier arms in the same material or style.

I'll post a pic when I've made the changes.