Frequently Bought Together
Designed in the spirit of Isamu Noguchi's Akari light sculptures, the UF4-L8 is the most sculptural floor lamp in the family — a faceted washi paper totem that rises over six feet, its diamond panels folding in and out like origami as the column climbs from four slender black steel legs. Lit, it reads less like a lamp than a standing column of warm geometry.
At a Glance
- Designer: after Isamu Noguchi's Akari light-sculpture series, begun in 1951
- Form: a faceted, origami-like washi paper totem on a four-leg black steel wire base
- Size: 75.5" / 192 cm tall overall, with a 60.1" / 153 cm shade — the most sculptural, totem-like Akari floor form
- Light: included bulb with three switchable color temperatures, wide 100–250V input, rated up to 150W
- Control: foot switch on a long ~118" / 3 m cord
- Materials: handmade washi paper over bamboo ribs on a matte-black steel frame
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."
Within the Akari family, the UF floor forms are the most openly sculptural — totems and columns in which the paper is faceted, kinked, and stacked rather than blown into a globe. The UF4-L8 is that idea at full height: a zigzag column of glowing facets that turns a corner of the room into sculpture. The original Akari series is still produced by Ozeki & Co. in Gifu using the same hand techniques.
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 a faceted bamboo-and-wire skeleton — five stacked diamond modules that glow evenly edge to edge when lit.
- Base: four slender matte-black steel legs, splayed for stability and thin enough to keep the tall column visually floating.
- Light source: an included bulb with three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white) on a wide 100–250V input; the fixture is rated up to 150W.
- Wiring: a long ~118" (3 m) cord with a foot switch, so the lamp can stand away from the outlet and switch on with a tap.
Each shade is folded and finished by hand. Subtle variations in the paper grain and facet creases are part of the character — no two Akari shades are identical.
Specifications
| Overall height | 75.5" / 192 cm |
|---|---|
| Shade height | 60.1" / 153 cm |
| Shade width | 12.2" / 31 cm |
| Base height | 15.3" / 39 cm |
| Overall width (legs) | 18.6" / 47 cm |
| Shade | Handmade washi paper on a faceted bamboo-and-wire frame |
| Base | Four-leg matte-black steel wire base |
| Bulb (included) | Three switchable color temperatures (warm / neutral / cool white) |
| Rating / voltage | Up to 150W · wide-range AC 100–250V input |
| Switch | Foot switch on a ~118" / 3 m cord |
Sizing & Where It Fits
The UF4-L8 is the statement Akari. At 75.5" (192 cm) it stands taller than the Akari 14A (64" / 162 cm), yet its 12.2" (31 cm) faceted column keeps a footprint barely wider than a dinner plate — the four wire legs claim almost no visual floor space. Where the 14A reads as a soft column and the 10A as a glowing balloon, the UF4-L8 reads as sculpture: angular, rhythmic, architectural.
Give it a wall or corner where the full height can be seen — beside a bookcase, at the end of a hallway, behind a lounge chair, or anchoring the empty corner of a living or dining room. The light is soft and ambient, made for atmosphere rather than task lighting. For a quieter column choose the 14A; for volume and roundness, the 10A; for tabletop scale, the Akari 1a table lamp.
Care & Assembly
The lamp arrives with the shade folded flat and the legs detached, and assembles in minutes: open the shade along its creases, seat it onto the frame, attach the legs, 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 lamp clear of high-traffic walkways. When changing the bulb, support the socket rather than twisting the shade.
How to Style the Akari UF4-L8
The UF4-L8's zigzag column is made to be seen in silhouette — against a bare plaster wall, in the corner of a japandi living room, beside a low walnut sideboard, or next to a leather lounge chair where its warm facets can rise the full height of the wall. One lamp is enough to give a minimalist room its focal point.
Complete the look:
- Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair & Ottoman — black leather and walnut to ground the paper glow
- Akari 1a Washi Paper Table Lamp — echo the washi light at table height
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the UF4-L8 different from other Akari floor lamps?
Most Akari floor lamps are soft, rounded lanterns. The UF4-L8 belongs to Noguchi's sculptural UF floor series: its washi is stretched over a faceted frame of stacked diamond modules, so the lit surface breaks into angular planes of light and shadow. It is the Akari to choose when you want the lamp to be the room's sculpture.
How tall is it, and how much floor space does it need?
75.5" (192 cm) tall overall — well above eye height — with a shade only 12.2" (31 cm) wide and legs spanning 18.6" (47 cm). It needs a tall, visible wall or corner, but claims very little actual floor.
What bulb does it use, and is one included?
Yes — the included bulb offers three switchable color temperatures (warm, neutral, and cool white) and a wide AC 100–250V input that works worldwide; the fixture is rated up to 150W. The foot switch on the ~118" (3 m) cord turns it on with a tap.
How does it ship and assemble?
The shade ships folded flat to protect the frame; the legs ship detached. Assembly takes a few minutes with no tools — unfold the shade, seat it on the frame, attach the legs, install the bulb, and step on the 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.
Should I choose the UF4-L8 or the 14A?
Choose by silhouette. The 14A is a smooth, quiet column of light — the discreet choice. The UF4-L8 is taller (75.5" vs 64") and openly sculptural, with faceted planes that catch light differently from every angle. If the lamp should disappear into the room, take the 14A; if it should be the centerpiece, take the UF4-L8.
Shipping & Returns
Free US shipping. 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.
