You know Isamu Noguchi lamps—even if you don’t think you do. For design lovers, the late Japanese artist’s lamps are just one extension of his many contributions to modernism, which include towering, amorphous carvings of rock and stone, and the honing of his sculpture-for-use philosophy. But even if you’ve never heard of Noguchi, you’ve almost certainly seen his cultural influence if you’ve ever stepped foot inside an IKEA and taken home a rice paper lamp. Remember Troye Sivan’s dreamy Architectural Digest home video tour? It was full of Akaris in order to give off “a soup of light,” in the words of the pop singer, who clearly understood the key to these lamps’ success: They make everything sexy by proxy. They’re the design equivalent of giving a room one of those soft-glow Instagram filters that makes you look like a sexy, poreless marshmallow. Alas, Akaris ain’t cheap. Good thing we’re design-loving hermits with only 1.5 friends (the pigeon nesting on our fire escape counts), and all the time in the world to get elbow-deep into the internet to find you the best deals on Noguchi lamps, and their Japanese-inspired doppelgangers. Whether you’re looking to zhuzh your home with a little minimalist, mid-century design, or you’re sick and tired of having a reading lamp that looks like an IV pole, the world of Noguchi-inspired lamps is a surefire way to cast your home—and your life—in a more magical light. Here are some of our favorite affordable dupes, from hanging pendants to oversized floor lamps and more. |
