Japanese Rice Paper Table Lamp

A rice paper shade on a slender three-legged metal base, following the washi lantern tradition that Japanese lighting has used for centuries. Paper is the best diffuser there is: light passes through the fibres rather than bouncing off a surface, so the whole shade glows evenly with no hotspot and no hard edge to the light.

The effect in a room is quiet. It produces a warm, low, enveloping light that softens corners rather than lighting them, which is why this style suits a bedroom, a study, a meditation corner or a hallway where you want atmosphere rather than brightness. The tripod base lifts the shade clear of the surface so light falls below it as well as around it.

Construction is paper and metal, so it is light to move but needs a little care: keep it away from damp, dust the shade with a dry brush rather than a cloth, and do not let anything press against the paper. The LED is included and it runs at 220 to 240 V with a switch. Best placed where it will not be knocked, since paper cannot be repaired the way a fabric shade can.

• Material: rice paper shade with metal tripod base
• Light source: LED, included
• Voltage: 220 to 240 V
• Control: switch
• Design: tripod base, washi-style lantern shade
• Care: dust with a dry brush, keep away from damp
• Style: Japanese, minimalist, modern zen
• Use: bedrooms, living rooms, studies, hotels, quiet corners