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A totem of seven stacked paper lanterns, offset one above another like a column of floating light. Inspired by Isamu Noguchi's celebrated Akari light sculptures, the UF4-L10 form turns a floor lamp into architecture — 63 inches of soft, even washi glow riding on slender black steel legs.
At a Glance
- Design: in the tradition of Isamu Noguchi's Akari light-sculpture series, begun in Gifu, Japan in 1951
- Form: seven stacked, offset rectangular washi paper lanterns — the sculptural totem of our Akari floor-lamp family
- Size: 63" / 160 cm tall with a footprint of about 15.4" / 39 cm
- Light: included 24W LED (standard E27 screw socket) with three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white), wide 100–250V input
- Convenience: inline foot switch on an 11 ft (3.4 m) cord — tap it on without bending down
- Materials: washi paper shades over a rigid internal metal frame, matte-black steel legs
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 stopped in Gifu, a Japanese city whose artisans had folded washi paper into chōchin lanterns for centuries, and there began the family of light sculptures he called Akari — a Japanese word meaning both "light" and "lightness." Over the following three decades he designed more than one hundred Akari forms, and he spoke of them less as lamps than as atmosphere: light that dissolves the boundary between object and air.
The UF4-L10 silhouette belongs to the later, most sculptural chapter of the series — tall standing lamps whose paper volumes ride on slim steel stands. Its stacked, offset boxes echo the totem-like stone columns of Noguchi's sculpture: pure geometry, glowing from within.
Materials & Craftsmanship
Our reproduction is built in the Akari tradition and engineered to live comfortably in a real home:
- Shade: seven rectangular washi paper lanterns with fine horizontal pleats, stacked in alternating widths so the tower reads differently from every angle.
- Frame: a rigid internal metal skeleton carries the whole structure — the paper is never load-bearing, so the crisp stepped lines hold year after year.
- Base: slender matte-black steel legs lift the column off the floor and keep all 63 inches visually weightless.
- Light: an included 24W LED bulb with three switchable color temperatures — warm white for evenings, neutral or cool white for brighter moods — on a wide 100–250V input that suits US and European outlets alike.
- Wiring: an 11 ft (3.4 m) cord with an inline foot switch, so the lamp can stand well away from the nearest outlet.
Specifications
| Total height | 63" / 160 cm |
|---|---|
| Width (widest lantern) | 15.4" / 39 cm |
| Shade | Seven stacked washi paper lanterns over an internal metal frame |
| Base | Slender matte-black steel legs |
| Bulb socket | E27 medium screw (standard US E26 bulbs fit) |
| Bulb (included) | 24W LED, three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white) |
| Voltage | Wide-range AC 100–250V input |
| Cord & switch | 11 ft (3.4 m) cord with inline foot switch |
Sizing & Where It Fits
The UF4-L10 is the totem of the Akari family — seven stacked lanterns rising to 63" (160 cm) while keeping a footprint of only about 15" (39 cm). Where the Akari 14A (64" / 162 cm) reads as a soft column and the Akari 10A (47.2" / 120 cm) as a glowing balloon, the UF4-L10 reads as architecture: stepped, rhythmic, unmistakably sculptural. Its direct sibling is the Akari UF4-L8 (75.5" / 192 cm) — choose the L8 for maximum height and a faceted, angular presence in tall rooms; choose the UF4-L10 for the stacked-lantern totem at a scale that flatters standard 8-foot ceilings.
Give it a wall or corner where the silhouette can be seen whole — beside a lounge chair, anchoring the quiet end of a dining room, or greeting you in an entry. The light is soft and ambient (mood lighting rather than task lighting), so it suits rooms where you want warmth and atmosphere. For a compact tabletop-scale accent, see the Akari 7A (25" / 63.5 cm). Want it overhead instead? See the Akari washi paper pendant lamp (three sizes).
Care & Assembly
The lamp ships with each lantern tier individually protected. Assembly is tool-free and takes about ten minutes: seat the shade onto the frame, screw in the included bulb, and tap the foot switch. Because the internal metal frame carries all the tension, the paper is never stressed during setup.
Treat the washi paper — often sold in the US as rice paper, though washi's long fibers are far stronger — 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. The included LED runs cool, so the paper stays safe to the touch and keeps its warm tone. When changing the bulb, support the socket rather than twisting the shade.
How to Style the Akari UF4-L10
The stacked tower is made for rooms that mix warm wood, leather, and clean-lined upholstery. Stand it beside a cognac leather lounge chair in a japandi living room, let it anchor the calm corner of a wabi-sabi bedroom, or use it to bring standing-height light to a studio apartment where one sculptural piece has to do the decorating.
Complete the look:
- Finn Juhl Chieftain Chair — the sculptural leather lounge companion from the same golden age of design
- 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 paper-lantern craft and reshaped it as modern sculpture — meant to be read as light itself rather than as a fixture. Our lamp is inspired by the Akari UF4-L10 form, the stacked-totem floor lamp of that series; the original is still handmade in Gifu, Japan.
What bulb does it use, and is one included?
Yes — a 24W LED bulb is included, with three switchable color temperatures (warm, neutral, and cool white) and a wide 100–250V input. The socket is a standard E27 medium screw, and common US E26 bulbs fit it as well, so replacements are as close as any hardware store. Stick with LED so the paper stays cool.
Is a 63-inch paper lamp stable?
Yes. The seven lanterns weigh very little on their own, a rigid internal metal frame ties the full column together, and the wide-set steel legs keep the center of gravity low. As with any floor lamp, give it a spot out of high-traffic walkways, and use the foot switch on the cord so the lamp itself never needs to be handled day to day.
How does it ship, and is the washi paper fragile?
Each lantern tier ships individually protected inside the carton. Washi is stronger than it looks — its long fibers resist tearing far better than ordinary paper — and because the metal frame, not the paper, carries the structure, day-to-day life with the lamp is worry-free. Just keep it clear of pets' claws and damp rooms, and dust it gently.
Should I choose the Akari UF4-L10 or the UF4-L8?
Both are the sculptural statements of the family. The UF4-L10 is the stacked-lantern totem — seven offset boxes, 63" (160 cm) tall — and its stepped silhouette flatters standard-height ceilings. The UF4-L8 rises to 75.5" (192 cm) with a faceted, angular column that wants a taller room. Same washi glow, same black steel legs; choose by ceiling height and by whether you prefer stacked rhythm or carved facets.
Shipping & Returns
Free US shipping. 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.
