Rice Paper Lantern Pendant Light

A handmade rice paper shade with black stained oak rings set at intervals along it, giving the lantern a clear rhythm from top to bottom. This is a lantern built in that Japanese-Scandinavian paper tradition rather than a licensed reissue of any named designer piece. The white paper emphasises how light the whole thing is, and the dark rings are what stop it from reading as a plain paper balloon.

The open bottom is the practical detail. Rice paper diffuses light beautifully but absorbs a good deal of it, so an enclosed paper shade can be dim; leaving the base open lets the full output fall straight down onto a table while the paper handles everything that escapes sideways. Three sizes are offered, at 45, 50 and 70 cm. The 45 and 50 cm work over a dining table, in a bedroom or in a living room; the 70 cm is a genuine centrepiece for a large room or an open-plan space, and it needs the ceiling height to hang properly.

Each shade is made by hand, so slight variation in the paper and the placement of the rings is normal. Rice paper is delicate and combustible: use only a bulb that runs cool, do not exceed the maximum wattage marked on the fitting, and keep the shade clear of heat sources. Bulb is not included. Installation should be carried out by a qualified electrician.

• Shade: handmade rice paper with black stained oak rings
• Sizes: 45, 50 or 70 cm
• Form: open bottom for maximum downward light
• Best for: dining tables, living rooms, bedrooms, open-plan spaces
• Bulb: not included, cool-running only
• Safety: paper shade, keep clear of heat sources