Hoshi Washi Paper Table Lantern

The Hoshi Washi Paper Table Lantern from Solae Design belongs to a lineage that began in 1951, when the Akari lantern reimagined the bamboo-and-paper lamps of Gifu as furniture for the modern room. Handmade mulberry paper is stretched over a fine ribbed frame so the bulb inside disappears entirely and the whole shade becomes the light source.

Paper is what makes the glow work. It scatters light in every direction at once, removing hot spots and hard shadows, and it warms the colour temperature as the light passes through the fibre. Unlit, the lantern reads as quiet sculpture, a pale volume sitting on a console or side table. Nine sizes are offered across three model families, from a 10.2 inch bedside form to a 33.1 inch statement piece.

Suited to a bedside table, a Japandi living room, a study, or anywhere a room needs softening rather than brightening. Each shade is made by hand and small variations in the paper grain and seam are characteristic of the material. Dust with a soft dry brush only; the paper should never be dampened. Low-heat LED lamps are recommended throughout the range. Larger sizes ship flat and open out on their frame, so they arrive compactly despite the finished dimensions.

• Shade: handmade mulberry (washi) paper
• Frame: fine ribbed metal
• Sizes: nine options, ∅ 10.2″ to ∅ 33.1″
• Colour: white
• Light source: warm white, fully diffused
• Placement: table, console or floor-adjacent
• Plug options: US, UK, AU, EU
• Dust dry; do not wet the paper