Akari 120A pendant

The Akari light sculptures designed by Isamu Noguchi are a modern interpretation of Japanese paper lanterns. The first designs date back to 1951 when Noguchi visited the city of Gifu in Japan and was inspired by the beautiful traditional lanterns used by local fishermen for night fishing at the Nagara River. Vitra's iconic collection includes more than a hundred different and lightweight pendant, floor and table lamps.

The shades of Akari lamps are handcrafted from bamboo ribbing and washi paper that is made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. Designer Isamu Noguchi has compared the light created by Akari to natural sunlight filtered through a Japanese shōji paper door: paper sculptures magically convert hard electric light into a warm glow. According to Noguchi, the home is born of a room, a tatami and Akari.

Isamu Noguchi

Vitra is a Swiss family business founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum. Since its foundation, Vitra has concentrated on producing high-quality, well-designed and long-lasting furniture for homes, offices and public spaces. Vitra’s collections combine the creative touch of top designers with precise quality and durable materials, making them elegant and unique design classics.