Akari 1a Washi Paper Table Lamp

Designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951, the Akari 1A is where the Akari story begins — the first lantern in his celebrated series of light sculptures. A soft, egg-shaped washi paper shade rests on a slim black wire tripod, small enough for a nightstand yet sculptural enough to change the mood of a whole room. Our faithful reproduction stays true to the form Noguchi developed with the lantern makers of Gifu, Japan: light made tangible, almost weightless.

At a Glance

• Designer: Isamu Noguchi — the 1A is the first model of the Akari light-sculpture series he began in 1951
• Form: an egg-shaped washi paper lantern on a slim matte-black wire tripod with a looped carrying handle
• Size: 18.5" / 47 cm tall with an 11" / 28 cm shade — true bedside and tabletop scale
• Light: included 7W LED, ~700 lumens, three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool), wide AC 110–250V input; standard E27 socket
• Assembly: about 5 minutes, no tools required
• Materials: handmade washi paper over fine bamboo ribs on a black steel wire base

About Isamu Noguchi

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was a Japanese-American sculptor and designer whose work bridged East and West across furniture, gardens, stage sets, and public space. In 1951 he travelled to Gifu, a small city on the Nagara River where artisans had folded washi paper and bamboo into chōchin lanterns for centuries. The mayor invited him to help revive the local craft, and Noguchi answered with a new family of light sculptures he called Akari — a Japanese word meaning both "light" and "lightness."

The original Akari series is still produced by Ozeki & Co. in Gifu using the same hand techniques. Noguchi spoke of Akari less as lamps than as atmosphere — light that dissolves the boundary between object and air. The 1A is where that idea began: the very first Akari, an egg of warm light lifted on three wire legs, made to sit beside you rather than above you.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Our reproduction is built in the Akari tradition, with materials chosen to read the way Noguchi intended:

• Shade: handmade washi paper stretched over fine horizontal bamboo ribs in the signature egg-shaped lantern form, glowing evenly and warmly when lit.
• Base: three slim matte-black steel wire legs that hold the shade just off the surface, keeping the lantern visually afloat.
• Handle: a black wire loop at the crown, so the lamp can move from nightstand to shelf to floor as easily as a paper lantern should.
• Wiring: a fabric-sheathed cord with an inline switch for easy on and off.

Each shade is folded and finished by hand. Subtle variations in the paper grain and rib spacing are part of the character — no two Akari shades are identical.

Specifications

Sizing & Where It Fits

The 1A is the smallest lantern in our Akari family — the one that lives closest to you. At 18.5" (47 cm) tall with an 11" (28 cm) shade, it is sized for a nightstand, a side table, a console, a bookshelf, or even the floor beside a lounge chair, where its soft glow reads as a small moon in the corner of the room.

Want the same character at larger scale? The Akari 7A (25" / 63.5 cm) is the compact floor lamp, the Akari 10A (47.2" / 120 cm) is the statement floor lantern, and the Akari 14A rises to 64" (162 cm) as a slender column of light. Prefer it overhead? See the Akari washi paper pendant lamp (three sizes).

Care & Assembly

The lamp arrives with the shade folded flat to protect the bamboo ribs and assembles in about five minutes: open the shade along its ribs, seat it onto the wire base at the collar, screw in the included bulb, and plug in. No tools required.

Treat the washi paper as you would any fine paper object. Dust lightly with a soft, dry brush or a hairdryer on a cool, low setting. Avoid liquids and damp rooms, and keep the cord tucked so the lamp isn't pulled from its perch. When changing the bulb, support the socket from below rather than twisting the shade.

How to Style the Akari 1A

The 1A's warm paper glow is made for the quiet corners of a mid-century modern home — on a nightstand for reading light that feels like candlelight, on a sideboard beneath framed art, or on the floor beside a cane lounge chair, the way Noguchi's lanterns have been styled since the 1950s.

Complete the look:

• Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh Kangaroo Lounge Chair — the teak-and-cane companion you see in our photos

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Noguchi's Akari different from an ordinary paper lantern?

Traditional Gifu chōchin are utilitarian lanterns. Noguchi's Akari series, begun in 1951, took the same washi-and-bamboo craft and reshaped it as modern sculpture — meant to be read as light itself rather than a container for a bulb. Our lamp is inspired by the Akari 1A form, the first model of the series; the original line is still produced by Ozeki & Co. in Gifu.

How big is the 1A — will it work on a nightstand?

Yes — bedside duty is exactly what the 1A was made for. It stands 18.5" (47 cm) tall overall with an 11" (28 cm) shade, about the footprint of a dinner plate, so it sits comfortably on a nightstand, side table, shelf, or windowsill.

What bulb does it use, and is one included?

Yes — a 7W LED bulb is included, giving about 700 lumens with three switchable color temperatures (warm, neutral, and cool white) and a wide AC 110–250V input range that works worldwide. It uses a standard E27 medium screw socket, so any low-wattage E27 bulb will fit if you ever want to swap it. Keep wattage low so the paper stays cool to the touch.

How does it ship and assemble?

The shade ships folded flat to protect the bamboo ribs, with the wire base packed alongside. Assembly takes about five minutes with no tools — unfold the shade along its ribs, seat it on the base, install the bulb, and switch it on at the inline switch.

Is the washi paper fragile, and will it yellow over time?

Washi is stronger than it looks — its long fibers resist tearing far better than ordinary paper — but it is still paper, so avoid bumps, pets, and humidity, and dust gently. Natural washi warms in tone gradually with age and light; many collectors consider this part of an Akari's character.

Should I choose the Akari 1A or a floor-scale Akari?

Choose by where the light will live. The 1A is the intimate, tabletop model — bedside lamps, shelves, and side tables are its home. If you want a lantern that anchors a room from the floor, step up to the 7A (25" / 63.5 cm) or the statement-scale 10A (47.2" / 120 cm). All share the same handmade washi-and-bamboo craft and the same warm, even glow.

Shipping & Returns

Free US shipping. 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.