Shoji lantern

Designed for an end table and well suited to reading light, this lantern balances opposing energies: the flared legs and gently curved roof push outward and upward, while the grid of shoji panes and the central kumiko medallion draw the eye inward. The tension between those forces gives the piece its character.

The panes are backed by Warlon, a translucent material chosen for its fire resistance — though the lamp itself runs on cool LEDs. At the center of the front panel, a single asa-no-ha medallion provides a focal point: the hemp leaf pattern, an ancient symbol of growth and resilience. A piece of black bamboo crowns the roofline, a small whimsical flourish against the wider sweep of the eaves.

This lamp was made in the workshop of Jay van Arsdale, one of the foremost kumiko artists in the West, whose patient mentorship shaped both the piece and the maker. Available in battery or wired configurations.

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