Washi Paper and Bamboo Akari 10DA Floor Lamp by Isamu Noguchi, 1950s

The Akari "10DA" floor lamp was designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951 and produced by Ozeki & Co. This model features a large, ovoid shade crafted from traditional Japanese washi paper and bamboo, which produces a soft, organic diffusion of light. This specific unit is a never-used 1950s production piece that has been preserved in its original state, now supported by a period-correct authentic replacement tripod base. The shade retains the signature red sun and moon logo characteristic of early Ozeki editions.

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was a Japanese-American artist, sculptor, and landscape architect who became one of the most influential figures of 20th-century modernism. His "Akari" light sculptures, conceived in 1951 during a visit to Gifu, Japan, redefined the relationship between sculpture and functional objects. By utilizing traditional Japanese materials like washi paper made from mulberry bark and bamboo, Noguchi created luminous forms that he famously described as bringing "sunlight into the room."