A compact fluorescent lamp is designed to imitate an incandescent lamp in size, shape and luminosity. The lamp includes a bulbous envelope (14) having an external shape of an incandescent lamp (10) on a standard Edison-type base (11) that enables it to be substituted for standard 60, 75 and 100 W incandescent lamps. A low-pressure fluorescent lamp (18) having a coiled tubular envelope with an outer diameter less than about 7 mm, an inner diameter between about 1 and 5 mm, and a length between about 50 and 100 cm is wound in a coil around the axis of the bulbous envelope (14) and is disposed within the bulbous envelope. The tubular envelope is formed of soft glass and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surfaces. Electrodes (14) with external electrical contacts are disposed at each end of the envelope. A ballast (12) is disposed within the bulbous envelope. The ballast is electrically connected to the lamp (15), whereby to control current in the fluorescent lamp. A heat shield (17) is disposed between the lamp and the ballast to thermally isolate the lamp from the ballast, whereby heat from the lamp will not adversely affect the ballast.