Japanese-Inspired Table Lamps To Elevate Any Space
From Isamu Noguchi and Ingo Maurer to Audo Copenhagen and Crate & Barrel, the heritage of lanterns continues to inspire timeless design expressions.
Design trends are the stuff of aspiration. From Herman Miller’s eternally popular Eames Lounge Chair to Ligne Roset’s unmistakable Togo sofas, many of the most iconic and sought-after design pieces remain the stuff of our dreams—if not our living rooms. But as frustrating as the prohibitively high cost of great design can be, the price comes for good reason: Quality and craft are worth paying for. Fortunately, there are also exceptions to the rule. Case in point? Japanese-inspired paper and linen table lamps.
Defined by their elegant simplicity, the fundamentally minimalist pairing of a light source with a paper or fabric shade facilitates an accessible entry point to exceptional design. And there’s a rich heritage to boot. Dubbed Akari, Isamu Noguchi’s landmark 1951 collection of washi paper lamps made the young American designer a household name. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of paper lanterns and the Gifu region’s craft heritage, Noguchi’s “light sculptures” paved the way today for new design expressions. Today, Japanese-inspired lamps are an on-trend addition to the home and an easy way to embrace refined design without breaking the bank. Here, we look at six standout designs.
Approx. $175, at Noguchi Shop.
Akari 1N by Isamu Noguchi
What better place to start than the original? Still handmade in Gifu, Japan, Noguchi’s original designs are now the provenance of a namesake museum in New York, and are available for purchase via the online shop. And while the museum maintains an impressively eclectic collection of Noguchi forms and colourways, the Akari 1N is a quintessential expression of the style. Handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing are supported by a slender metal frame, emphasizing the lamp’s elegantly irregular “wabi-sabi” form. Over 70 years later, it remains an affordable synthesis of modernist design and Japanese heritage.
$199, at Crate & Barrel.
Toro Square Weave Table Lamp by Crate & Barrel
Inspired by Japanese paper lanterns, the newly released Toro Square Weave table lamp is a quiet and delicately understated presence. Characterized by its subtly rounded rectangular form, the textured — and pleasantly tactile — linen shade sits atop a simple wood base of two intersecting oak veneer panels. While the wood joinery of the base offers another nod to Japanese design heritage, the subtle contrast between the rectilinear base and the gently curved shade makes for a dynamic yet sophisticated whole.
$229, at Misterlamp.
Hashira Portable Table Lamp by Norm Architects for Audo Copenhagen
Pure, functional and versatile, the compact design by Copenhagen-based Norm Architects pairs a cylindrical linen shade with an ethereal cross-patterned structure. Anchored by a sturdy cylindrical wooden base, the Harisha lamp features a warm white rechargeable LED. Its softly diffused light fosters a calm and soothing ambiance, while the wireless design ensures a sleek and unencumbered presence that’s particularly well-suited to minimalist interiors.
$565, at James Mankoff Design.
Table Lamp by James Mankoff Design
“This lamp was originally created out of the need to add more warmth and mood lighting to my home,” says American designer James Mankoff. Yet, the artisanal, handmade teak or walnut table lamps—available in a white or golden shade—are statement pieces in their own right. As Mankoff explains, “The lampshade is handmade through a multi-day process of steam bending the wood rim and oiling custom warm-toned parchment paper. Unlike traditional lampshades, the oiled paper process allows light to permeate its semi-translucent sides, creating a warm soft glow in all directions.”
$562, at LightForm.
Nelson Tripod Pear Table by Herman Miller
Just a year after Noguchi debuted the Akari collection, fellow American (and Herman Miller designer) George Nelson introduced another lighting collection for the ages. Perhaps best remembered for the iconic Bubble Lamp pendants, Nelson’s collection is described as “an atomic take on the Japanese paper lantern” by designer Jonathan Adler. For a bolder alternative to more traditional Japanese styles, look no further than the scalloped Space Age form of the Tripod Pear Table. And although the shade is technically made of plastic, its delicate presence evokes the simple beauty of the (much more expensive) silk-covered Japanese lamps that inspired Nelson’s design.
$2,732, at Casa Di Luce.
Yoruba Rose Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer
While paper lends itself to simplicity, the art of origami folding reveals an intricate world of complexity. Inspired by Noguchi’s original series, Ingo Maurer and Dagmar Mombach’s “MaMo Nouchies” riff on the designer’s forms to create more sinuously sculptural paper forms. The Yoruba Rose table lamp is an enchanting expression, harnessing an organic, pearl-like form that stretches upwards like a flower to the sun. Made possible via a custom manufacturing process at Dagmart Mombach’s studio, the lamp comes with an (understandably) elevated price point. But it remains the stuff of dreams.
