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Designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951, the Akari 14A is the tallest silhouette in the Akari floor-lamp family — a long, slender washi paper lantern that rises over five feet, swelling gently at the shoulder before tapering to a slim foot on a black tripod. Our faithful reproduction stays true to the form Noguchi developed with the lantern makers of Gifu, Japan: a standing column of soft, warm light.
At a Glance
- Designer: Isamu Noguchi, from the Akari light-sculpture series he began in 1951
- Form: a tall, slender tapered washi paper lantern on a slim matte-black tripod
- Size: 64" / 162 cm tall with a 13" / 33 cm shade — the tallest, most column-like Akari floor lamp
- Light: included 7W LED, ~700 lumens, three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool), wide 110–250V input; standard E27 socket
- Assembly: about 5 minutes, no tools required
- Materials: handmade washi paper over bamboo ribs, with warm reddish wood collars
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 14A is that idea drawn upward: a single elongated lantern raised to eye height, reading as a quiet column of light rather than a fixture.
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 one long, gently tapering lantern that glows evenly from top to foot when lit.
- Collars: turned wood rings in a warm reddish finish at the top and bottom of the shade, with a squared wire carrying handle at the crown.
- Base: a slim three-legged metal tripod in matte black, sized to keep the tall shade visually weightless.
- Wiring: a floor-length cord with an inline foot 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
| Total height | 64" / 162 cm |
|---|---|
| Shade width (widest) | 13" / 33 cm diameter |
| Shade | Handmade washi paper on horizontal bamboo ribs, reddish wood collars |
| Base | Matte black three-legged metal tripod |
| Carrying handle | Black wire loop at the crown |
| Bulb socket | E27 medium screw |
| Bulb (included) | 7W LED, approx. 700 lumens, three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white) |
| Voltage | Wide-range 110–250V input |
| Switch | Inline foot switch on the cord |
Sizing & Where It Fits
The 14A is the tall, slim Akari. At 64" (162 cm) it stands well above the Akari 10A (47.2" / 120 cm), yet its 13" (33 cm) shade is barely a third as wide as the 10A's rounded ovoid — so it reads as a glowing column rather than a balloon of light. That slender footprint is its superpower: it brings standing-height light to corners and slivers of wall where a wide-shaded floor lamp would crowd the furniture.
Stand it in a reading corner beside a bookcase, between a window and a sofa, behind a lounge chair, or in a narrow entry. The light is soft and ambient (mood lighting rather than task lighting), so it suits rooms where you want warmth and atmosphere. If you want a fuller, rounder statement piece, choose the 10A; for a compact tabletop-scale accent, the Akari 7A (25" / 63.5 cm). Want it overhead instead? See the Akari washi paper pendant lamp (three sizes).
Care & Assembly
The lamp arrives in two pieces — the folded shade and the tripod base — and assembles in about five minutes: open the shade along its bamboo ribs, seat it onto the frame at the collars, screw in the 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 lamp clear of high-traffic walkways so the tripod isn't knocked. When changing the bulb, support the socket from below rather than twisting the shade.
How to Style the Akari 14A
The 14A's slender column of light is made for the tight, charactered corners of a mid-century modern room — beside a walnut bookcase in a reading nook, between a window and a leather sofa, or behind an armchair in a home library, where its washi glow can rise the full height of the wall without claiming any floor space.
Complete the look:
- Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair & Ottoman — the reading-corner companion in black or white leather
- Akari Washi Paper Pendant Lamp — carry the washi glow overhead in the dining room
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 14A form; the original series is still produced by Ozeki & Co. in Gifu.
How tall is the 14A, and how much floor space does it need?
It stands 64" (162 cm) tall — eye height for most people — but the shade is only about 13" (33 cm) across at its widest, so it occupies very little visual space. Allow a small clear patch of floor for the three tripod legs and enough ceiling height for the shade to read comfortably; in most rooms it slots into corners a conventional floor lamp can't.
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 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; the tripod base ships separately. Assembly takes about five minutes with no tools — unfold the shade along its ribs, set it onto the frame, install the bulb, and switch it on at the inline foot 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, and replacement shades for this form are widely available.
Should I choose the Akari 14A or the 10A?
It comes down to the shape of light you want. The 14A is the tall, slender column — 64" (162 cm) high with a 13" (33 cm) shade — ideal for narrow corners, beside bookcases, and behind seating, where it draws the eye upward. The 10A is shorter (47.2" / 120 cm) but much fuller, with a rounded 20" (51 cm) ovoid shade that anchors a room like a glowing balloon. Both use the same handmade washi-and-bamboo Akari craft and the same warm, even glow — choose the 14A for height and grace, the 10A for volume and presence.
Shipping & Returns
Free US shipping. 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.
