We have a House Build in the early 1930's,

This looks like it's period to your home. It probably had shades on each side. The shades would bd glass, probably painted and would fit the socket, then the bulb wou be screwed in. Do a search for 1930s ceiling fixtures. I am sure you will see many examples!

I would add a shades to the fixtures.

I have saved the glass tulip shades from a worn out fan. Maybe you could find some at a thrift store or a fan store , scout garage sales.

I personally like it as is.

I love them too! But I get not everyone likes to see the bare bulbs. Finding the missing bits will be exhausting and when you do find them, they will be expensive. I have restored homes built in the 20's and paid $80 just for one doorknob . . .

I would just start trying to find ceiling fan shades that will work, you may need to change the style of your bulb to accommodate a shade that works with the fixture.

And I would still pop into any antiques store in your travels just on the off chance you find original parts.

And if you are a Facebook user (I am not), post this photo and get everyone you know to help you look. You never know till you ask!

try some globes and smaller bulbs, it is a pretty fixture, not something you will find today

First, the fixture is complete. It is not missing anything. I have however seen some that had small petal like collars at the base of the bulb but they were metal fixtures. Like this: The bulbs in the your fixture are not the right sort. I suggest looking up other types of bulbs. If you go to Pinterest or Google and search "lighting flushmount 1930s" there will be lots of examples with different types of bulbs. The fixture is worth between $125 and $250 approxiamately so whatever you do, don't paint it.

If you wanted to hide the bare bulbs, there are some very easy wire forms you could make that slide on/grip the bulbs and had gathered, white chiffon type fabric, sort of balloon shaped shades. With some light wire, you could make tapered shades, drum-shaped or round, spherical shades. Maybe even a bit of trim to pick up the colors in the porcelain. Otherwise, carefully remove them, store them and give them to the new homeowners since the fixtures are original to the house and era. Are they worth disagreeing over with your hubby ;-)?

Try some different shape decorator bulbs before you spend a bunch of time or money in restoration parts. There are over-mirror light bars available for bathrooms that use different size and finish globe light bulbs that look like they would be a good fit-up. There are other shapes available too. Maybe even LED, but I'd get incandescent bulbs for my test runs first---cheaper.

Along the lines of Rog's suggestion, maybe edison bulbs.

I have a few of these & Edison tear shaped (large chandelier) bulbs look nice so do the regular clear ones

These pics may help.

A couple of shades and bulbs similar to this pick would look great!

I'm with the Edison bulb group. Be sure to use a round bulb; the flame shaped ones are designed to be upright only and burn too hot to be pointed down.

As as other have said, they are complete as they are. you may like a beaded shade that clips on the bulb. There are some nice ones on eBay and Amazon. I've had friends swag big scarves and tack them to the ceiling when they don't like their fixtures.

Spruce it it up or downplay it... Original fixtures are great to have, but I have things I just don't like so I hear you!

I think you just need different light bulbs in a round shape With frosted glass

I think I might put it in a hallway where not much light is needed and switch to the Edison bulbs with maybe even a couple of cream colored cage lamp shades on them. Maybe the ones that open and close like a flower. I have them in my bedroom and really like them.

Check out specialty stores for light bulbs. There are near new lights avaisble that are attractive and energy saving

Try those Edison bulbs

Ebay carries a great many antique lamp shades for this type of fixture. or you can but shades with wire clamps, or even the clamps themselves, where you put them around the socket before you screw in the bulb.

I live in one of those homes, and I bought old picture frames, both oval, round and 6 and 8 sided, took out the glass and picture, painted the frame to match the fixture, and used liquid nails to affix them to the ceiling.

My friend advised me to either staple wire mesh or fabric that drooped if I wanted to hide the entire fixture, and just to diffuse the light bulbs. (stiff Japanese paper can work as well.)

I personally love it but I would add shades

If you're keeping with the time frame of the house google that time period. If you decide to replace the fixtures you could put them up for sale on Craig's List. Be sure to have the wiring in your home updated for new fixtures for safety reasons. Beautiful ornament! Best of luck.

There is a store in Towson MD - a suburb of Baltimore MD - called Wilson Lighting and Interiors 410.823.0423. Call them. They may be able to put you onto a dealer in your hometown.

Wilson handles hundreds lamps/fixtures and also does repairs. Have done repairs for me and I am very pleased. Also found a milk glass globe for my grandmother's l920s floor lamp at Wilson.

I did a google search and saw this picture. In case it is hard to see, the globes are round and small. Looks better than the bulbs on your fixture.

Ikea has lampshades that can go over the bulb before it is screwed in. The shades would hang down.

I also prefer the original fixture - but I think (like many others here) your problem may be the bulbs. Seeing others say "originals probably had globes" I searched and found this ad online:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/14/5f/3f/145f3f235222de8b3fb323b4a72a685c.jpg

No globes - just bulbs - but when I saw this pic:

https://img1.etsystatic.com/143/0/11066934/il_fullxfull.1163388805_7201.jpg

I thought you might appreciate that look of those bulbs. I hope that helps!

I found several of this type of fixture but none of them had shades, just decorative bulbs. Here's a website to check out: https://wanelo.co/shop/art-deco-ceiling-fixtures

I also like Edison bulbs, but they can be quite bright to look at. I converted an old glass shade into a hanging lamp and used a rounded Edison type bulb.

I had that identical fixture in my 1927 house.

I went to take it down, and what I thought was just a decorative center screw was actually a live gas line.

After some research, I discovered a lot of lighting from that period was designed to use electricity AND gas for when the not so reliable electric went out you just screwed on a gas mantle and you have light again!

This is just a tale of caution if you decide to remove it.

I wish I hadn't but my wife wanted her ceiling fan!

If it were me, though I love the fixture, I would most likely & some chains & globes & use it in a dining room over the table. It is soooooooo pretty. Enjoy it.

I grew up in a house with that sort of ceiling flight. It was a craftsman style house and the fixture was much plainer (no pretty flowers or gold accents). It was in my bedroom and I hated it but today I wish I owned that house and could restore it to it's orginal glory.

But what stye is your decor? Does the room have furniture and accessories of the same/similar period? If so, I'd definitely leave it and put in the little round low wattage bulbs that so many others have suggested. If the room needs additional light, you can always supplement it with some lamps. It truly is a beautiful piece and quite valuable from both a money and historical standpoint.

If you absolutely can't stand it, I'd CAREFULLY remove it, replace it with the fixture of your choice, wrap it up in acid free tissue then store it somewhere that it will be safe from moisture and breakage. There may come a day when you'll appreciate it more, or if you ever sell the house you'll have the original piece to sell to the new owner should he/she want it. Either way you win.

A large drum shade that fits will cover the fixture and diffuse the light.

Buy specialty light bulbs, like edisin bulbs or the pointed tip candle bulbs?

Edison bulbs.

There are no missing shades. Consumer electricity was only at its infancy in the '30s. These fixtures only ever had bare light bulbs. People were so thankful to have home lighting that a bare bulb was nothing when it came to home decor.

The only real solution you can pursue is to find bulbs that are less obtrusive than a traditional bare bulb.

As a side note, my mother-in-law worked for her local power company during that era and her job was to visit the homes of homemakers and show them how to operate their "new" electric ranges. So, you see, a bare bulb was not a big deal.

I have one almost identical. Ceiling fan shades work. You can paint them if you desire.

Think I would make a white parchment drum shade for it, and fasten it on the middle. You will have to add a longer threaded stem to replace the one there holding that fixture on. I found kit with them at the hardware store for my 40s fixture. Insert the long one in where the short one is now by taking the light fixture off by screwing off the knob, then insert new one, then put your current fixture back on and use the hollow thread nut to fasten it back on, then put your drum shade on the threaded post and secure with the knob, using washers if needed.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Barrel-Drum-Lamp-Shade/

http://www.9thandmayne.com/2013/02/diy-drum-shade-5252-challenge/

Take it down & put somewhere else as a sconce.

I have used decorative bulbs in a fixture like yours and it is beautiful.

If you like the fixture and want to keep it....take it down from the celing and put up a new light. Then take the bulbs out of the antique fixture and cut the wires out so it will sit level on a table. put some tall candles into the bulb sockets and you have a beautiful antique to enjoy all the time with out having to look up! hahahahaha It's a beautiful piece of history! good luck