Akari Light Sculptures - Akari UF3-Q - Super Rare
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacturer in Gifu, Japan, the paper lanterns are a harmonious blend of Japanese handcraft and modernist form.
The lamps are created from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing, supported by a metal frame.
Designers: Isamu Noguchi
Producer: Ozeki & Co., Ltd.
Manufactured: Gifu, Japan
Design Year: 1950s
Production Year: 2000’s
Type: Floor Lamp
About Akari
In 1951 Isamu Noguchi visited the town of Gifu, Japan, known for its manufacture of lanterns and umbrellas from mulberry bark paper and bamboo. Noguchi designed the first of his lamps that would be produced by the traditional Gifu methods of construction. He called these works Akari, a term meaning light as illumination, but also implying the idea of weightlessness.
The fabrication of Akari in Japan at Ozeki & Co. since 1951 follows the traditional methods for Japanese Gifu lanterns. Each Akari is handcrafted beginning with the making of washi paper from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. Bamboo ribbing is stretched across sculptural molded wood forms. The washi paper is cut into strips and glued onto both sides of the framework. Once the glue has dried and the shape is set, the internal wooden form is disassembled and removed. The outcome is a resilient paper form, which can be collapsed and packed flat for shipping.
With the warm glow of light cast through handmade paper on a bamboo frame, Isamu Noguchi utilized traditional Japanese materials to bring modern design to the home. Like the beauty of falling leaves and the cherry blossom, Noguchi wrote, Akari are “poetic, ephemeral, and tentative.” And he was fond of saying, “All that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari.”
About the Designer
Isamu Noguchi was a renowned Japanese-American artist and landscape architect known for his sculptures, gardens, and furniture designs. His work is characterized by a blend of Eastern and Western influences, and he is celebrated for his contributions to modern art and design throughout the 20th century.
Isamu Noguchi's Midjourney style is marked by minimalist and geometric forms, often realized in stone. The pieces exhibit a balance between smooth and textured surfaces, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere. The use of neutral tones and earthy colors enhances the natural and organic feel of the sculptures, which often incorporate negative space and spatial harmony. This style reflects Noguchi's interest in modernism and abstract expressionism, drawing from Japanese aesthetics and Zen philosophy.
Price: HK$12,500 / US$1,600
Professional installation is highly recommended.
Contact us for more details or for any other Akari Lamp enquiries.
Delivery:
Quick Ship Akari items will be delivered in 2-3 days from our warehouse or directly from Japan in 3-7 days.
We deliver worldwide, please contact us for a shipping equation.
Akari Light Sculptures - Akari UF3-Q - Super Rare
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacturer in Gifu, Japan, the paper lanterns are a harmonious blend of Japanese handcraft and modernist form.
The lamps are created from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing, supported by a metal frame.
Designers: Isamu Noguchi
Producer: Ozeki & Co., Ltd.
Manufactured: Gifu, Japan
Design Year: 1950s
Production Year: 2000’s
Type: Floor Lamp
About Akari
In 1951 Isamu Noguchi visited the town of Gifu, Japan, known for its manufacture of lanterns and umbrellas from mulberry bark paper and bamboo. Noguchi designed the first of his lamps that would be produced by the traditional Gifu methods of construction. He called these works Akari, a term meaning light as illumination, but also implying the idea of weightlessness.
The fabrication of Akari in Japan at Ozeki & Co. since 1951 follows the traditional methods for Japanese Gifu lanterns. Each Akari is handcrafted beginning with the making of washi paper from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. Bamboo ribbing is stretched across sculptural molded wood forms. The washi paper is cut into strips and glued onto both sides of the framework. Once the glue has dried and the shape is set, the internal wooden form is disassembled and removed. The outcome is a resilient paper form, which can be collapsed and packed flat for shipping.
With the warm glow of light cast through handmade paper on a bamboo frame, Isamu Noguchi utilized traditional Japanese materials to bring modern design to the home. Like the beauty of falling leaves and the cherry blossom, Noguchi wrote, Akari are “poetic, ephemeral, and tentative.” And he was fond of saying, “All that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari.”
About the Designer
Isamu Noguchi was a renowned Japanese-American artist and landscape architect known for his sculptures, gardens, and furniture designs. His work is characterized by a blend of Eastern and Western influences, and he is celebrated for his contributions to modern art and design throughout the 20th century.
Isamu Noguchi's Midjourney style is marked by minimalist and geometric forms, often realized in stone. The pieces exhibit a balance between smooth and textured surfaces, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere. The use of neutral tones and earthy colors enhances the natural and organic feel of the sculptures, which often incorporate negative space and spatial harmony. This style reflects Noguchi's interest in modernism and abstract expressionism, drawing from Japanese aesthetics and Zen philosophy.
Price: HK$12,500 / US$1,600
Professional installation is highly recommended.
Contact us for more details or for any other Akari Lamp enquiries.
Delivery:
Quick Ship Akari items will be delivered in 2-3 days from our warehouse or directly from Japan in 3-7 days.
We deliver worldwide, please contact us for a shipping equation.
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