A sculptor, painter, ceramicist and furniture and lighting designer, Isamu Noguchi was one of the most prolific and protean creative forces of the 20th century and a key figure in the development of organic modernism. Noguchi’s sculptures and designs — his chairs and tables as well as his timeless Akari lamp and other lighting fixtures — share a common spirit: one of lyrical abstraction, tempo and flow and harmonious balance.
Noguchi was born in Los Angeles to an American mother and Japanese father, and spent most of his childhood in Japan. He returned to the United States at age 13, went to high school in Indiana and enrolled at Columbia University to study medicine. At the same time, he took night courses in sculpture.
Within three months, Noguchi left college to pursue art full time. Noguchi was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1927 and traveled to Paris to work under Constantin Brancusi. It marked a turning point. Inspired by Brancusi, Noguchi embraced abstraction and began to sculpt in the expressive, rhythmic style that would be the hallmark of his work.
Once back in New York, Noguchi was introduced to design by what would become a lifelong collaboration creating sets for choreographer Martha Graham. His first industrial designs were in Bakelite: the sleek Measured Time kitchen timer created circa 1932, and his famed Zenith Radio Nurse intercom, from 1937.
Ten years later, Herman Miller introduced Noguchi’s now-iconic glass-topped coffee table with an articulated wooden base. His washi paper and bamboo Akari light sculptures, handmade in Japan, debuted in 1951. In the late 1950s, Noguchi designed for Knoll, creating such pieces as his dynamic Cyclone table and rocking stool.
For collectors, Noguchi’s furniture and lighting designs remain his most accessible work — they have the same power and presence that Noguchi brought to his art.
Find vintage Isamu Noguchi floor lamps, table lamps, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp with Stamped Signature- Showroom Display
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Glendale, CA
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp with Stamped Signature- Showroom Display. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguch...
Metal
Early Akari floor lamp 10a designed by Isamu Noguchi for Ozeki Ltd.
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Remarkable early AKARI 10a floor lamp with Washi Paper lampshade designed by Isamu Noguchi, manufactured by Ozeki, Japan in the 1960ies. This floor lamp features a white Washi pape...
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 10A Floor Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
$5,450 / item
Isamu Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp ST2-36N
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Seattle, WA
Rare and unusual New old stock Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp model ST2-36N, Isamu Noguchi stamped on steel base and shade. In pristine condition no scratches on the frame or tears o...
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 36N Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Isamu Noguchi for Akari / Ozeki lamp; Co. Horn floor lamp, model BB3-33S Japan
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Skokie, IL
Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) for Akari / Ozeki & Co. Horn floor lamp, model BB3-33S USA/Japan. More recent production dating to the 2000s. Materials: bamboo, washi paper, cast iron...
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 21A Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 1N Table Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Isamu Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp BB3-33S
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Seattle, WA
NOS (New old stock) Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp model BB3-33S, Made in Japan stamped on steel Base. In pristine condition no scratches on the frame or tears on the shade.
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp with Stamped Signature
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Glendale, CA
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A floor lamp. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Highly c...
Metal
1980s Akari Floor Lamp by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Elegant Akari floor lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi in the early 1950s. This sculptural light consists of a hand-formed washi paper shade stretched over a delicate bamboo rib structu...
Metal
$2,500 / item
Akari Model 24N Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model 24N light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Akari l...
Metal
$1,800 / item
Akari Model XP1 Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model XP1 light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Akari light sculptures by Isamu...
Metal
$648Sale Price / item|20% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 55A Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 22N Table Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
$624Sale Price / item|20% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 55D Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
$1,184Sale Price / item|20% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 70EN Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
$3,200 / item
Isamu Noguchi Model 14A Akari Light Sculpture
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Glendale, CA
Isamu Noguchi Model 14A Akari Light Sculpture. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stam...
Metal
$4,200 / item
Monumental Isamu Noguchi Akari 25N Floor Lamp
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Glendale, CA
Monumental Isamu Noguchi Akari 25N floor lamp. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Akari lig...
Metal
$2,500 / item
Akari Model 20n Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari Model 20N light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. ...
Metal
$4,995 / item
Isamu Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp ST2-33N
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Seattle, WA
Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp model ST2-33N, Isamu Noguchi stamped on steel base and shade. In pristine condition no scratches on the frame or tears on the shade, in original packag...
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 30D Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Akari Model 7A Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model 7A light sculpture by Isamu Noguchii. The shade is made from handmade washi paper, wood and bamboo ribs with authentic Noguchi Akari manufacturer's...
Metal
$6,000 / item
Isamu Noguchi Akari Lamp BB-3 55-D
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Two available. Purchased in 2000s. Iconic floor lamp by Noguchi. Ships from Philadelphia.
Bamboo
$1,280Sale Price|32% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 31N Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Early Original Mid Century Isamu Noguchi N21 Floor Lamp by Ozeki & Co Japan 1960
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very rare Japanese mid century floor lamp in beautifully patinated washi paper, bambo and black enamelled metal legs. In good original condition and marked with the iconic red "Sun...
Metal, Brass
$2,500 / item
Akari Model 22N Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model 22N light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Nog...
Metal
Isamu Noguchi for Akari light sculpture, model 10A
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Chicago, IL
Isamu Noguchi for Akari Light Sculpture, Model 10A Designed by Isamu Noguchi, 1952 Manufacturer: Ozeki & Co., Ltd., Japan / USA Materials: Washi paper, enameled steel, bamboo, cane, ...
Metal
$1,800 / item
Akari Model 1AG Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model 1AG light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. This table lamp has a shade made from handmade washi paper, ink and bamboo ribs with the original Noguc...
Metal
Isamu Noguchi Early Akari BB3 Bamboo & Iron Floor Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Sharon, CT
Early BB3 floor lamp. Cast iron base marked with white paint by hand: Made in Japan.
Iron
$4,349Sale Price|25% Off
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp, Bamboo & Washi Paper, Japan, 1990
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Floor lamp, model 10A, designed by Isamu Noguchi. Manufactured by Ozeki & Company Ltd. (Japan). Bamboo ribbing structure covered by washi paper manufactured according to the traditional procedures. This exceptional Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A...
Metal
Rare Akari 10DA by Isamu Noguchi for Ozeki 1951, 1st Edition
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Mortsel, BE
What makes this particular Akari lamp even more exceptional is its pristine condition and history. This lamp has never been used before, preserved in its original state since its pro...
Metal, Steel
$6,400 / set
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A Floor Lamps
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A floor lamp. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufactu...
Metal
Akari floor lamp bb3 55d designed by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
BB3 floor lamp with Washi Paper lampshade designed by Isamu Noguchi. Manufactured by Ozeki, Japan. This floor lamp features a white Washi paper lampshade, a bamboo shaft and a sphe...
Steel
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 70XL Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Centreville, VA
Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi are considered icons of 1950s modern design. Designed by Noguchi beginning in 1951 and handmade for a half century by the original manufacture...
Bamboo, Paper
Noguchi Akari Model 32N Floor Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Cambridge, US
Japan, ca. 1960s. An early and quite rare Model 32N Akari light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). Features an enameled cast iron and steel base by Ozeki & Co., Ltd. of Gifu, Ja...
Steel, Iron
Monumental Isamu Noguchi Akari 23N Floor Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Isamu Noguchi Akari 23N floor lamp. Executed in handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with original Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp and metal legs. ...
Metal
Vintage 1950s Isamu Noguchi BB3 / 55DD Floor Lamp (2 of 2)
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
An original 1950s BB3 floor lamp by Isamu Noguchi. The original shade was torn, and thus updated with a new harp, and new 55DD shade from the Noguchi museum. The bamboo stem, cast ir...
Iron
Unique Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture S2 With Pietra Serena Base
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique Isamu Noguchi Akari light sculpture, model S2 with sculpted Pietra Serena base. Japan & Italy c. 1977. Hand-made washi paper shade by Ozeki & Co. Ltd., Gifu, Japan. Sculpte...
Limestone
$20,000 / item
Early Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 21N
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TWO AVAILABLE. SOLD SEPERATELY. Isamu Noguchi Akari light sculpture. Model 21N. Noguchi’s Akari series was started in 1951, model 21N was designed in 1968...
Bamboo, Paper
Akari Floor Lamp BB3-55DD by Isamu Noguchi for Ozeki & Co, Japan, 1950s
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Antwerp, BE
This exceptionally rare Akari floor lamp by Isamu Noguchi features a graceful globe-shaped shade crafted from handmade washi paper, sourced from Gifu, Japan, renowned for its fine pa...
Cast Stone
Rare Early 10D Akari Floor Lamp by Isamu Noguchi for Ozeki, 1950s
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Echt, NL
Early important 10D Akari lamp in excellent condition. Designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951 Produced by Ozeki & Co., Ltd. New old stock! Model 10D is a floor lamp with a metal frame and an oval shaped shade from the Akari series. This example features the earliest manufacturer's mark, a red sun and half-moon insignia. The lamp is made out of Japanese washi paper, bamboo and metal. In 1951 Isamu Noguchi visited the town of Gifu, Japan, known for its manufacture of lanterns and umbrellas from mulberry bark paper and bamboo. Noguchi designed the first of his lamps that would be produced by the traditional Gifu methods of construction. He called these works Akari, a term meaning light as illumination, but also implying the IDEA of weightlessness. The fabrication of Akari in Japan at Ozeki & Co. since 1951 followed the traditional methods for Japanese Gifu lanterns...
Metal
Akari 31N Floor Lamp by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Akari 31N Floor Lamp by Isamu NoguchiIsamu Noguchi Akari 31N floor lamp from the 1950s, part of the Akari Light Sculptures series. Features a three-tiered washi paper shade over a ba...
Parchment Paper
Early Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 23N
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Isamu Noguchi Akari light sculpture. Model 23N. Noguchi’s Akari series started in 1951, model 23N was designed in 1968. This is an early model, marked with iconic red sun and moon i...
Bamboo, Paper
Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture Model 1P
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Isamu Noguchi Akari light sculpture. Model 1P. Early model, marked with iconic red sun and moon ideogram. Hand-made form by Ozeki Company, ...
Metal
Isamu Noguchi Mid-Century Modern Paper Akari 26A Ceiling Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Barcelona, ES
26A ceiling lamp, designed by Isamu Noguchi. Manufactured by Ozeki & Company Ltd. (Japan.) Bamboo ribbing structure covered by washi paper manufactured according to the tradition...
Metal
Akari Model 7AD Light Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi
By Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Glendale, CA
Akari model 7AD light sculpture by Isamu Noguchii. The shade is made from handmade washi paper, wood and bamboo ribs with authentic Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Akari light sculptures by Isamu...
Metal
1960s Vintage Original Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp Tripod
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A vintage Akari 10A floor lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi. This is a vintage example from the 1960s. The original shade was discarded long ago. A new signed ...
Iron
Vintage 1950s Isamu Noguchi BB3 / 55DD Floor Lamp (1 of 2)
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
An original 1950s BB3 floor lamp by Isamu Noguchi. The original shade was torn, and thus updated with a new harp, and new 55DD shade from the Noguchi museum. The bamboo stem, cast ir...
Iron
Vintage Akari 4N Light Sculpture Lamp by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Vintage Akari 4N light sculpture lamp by Isamu Noguchi. Late 20th century "Gemini" model. Shade is in overall good vintage condition with aging spots throughout. The Akari lamps prov...
Metal