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.
$3,200 / item
Isamu Noguchi Model 14A Akari Light Sculpture
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, 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
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp with Stamped Signature
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, 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
$6,400 / set
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A Floor Lamps
By Isamu Noguchi, Akari, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, 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
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp with Stamped Signature- Showroom Display
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, 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
Monumental Akari Light Sculpture Model UF4-31N by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Akari Light Sculpture Model UF4-31N by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi manufacturer's stamp. Akari light sculpture...
Metal
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 Table Lamp 1X
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Malmö, SE
This is an exceptional table lamp. Designed by Isamu Noguchi and made by Ozeki & Co in Gifu, Japan. Model 1X. The lampshade is created from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing, ...
Steel
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
Akari Floor Lamp BB3 - 55D by Isamu Noguchi for Ozeki & Co
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
Poetic Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp, model BB3-55DD. Cast iron base with bamboo stem and a handmade washi paper shade. Marked with Noguchi signature and trademark red symbol on t...
Iron
Lladro Porcelain Horse sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
Lladro Porcelain Horse Grouping Sculpture.
Porcelain
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 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
$3,650
H 66.93 in W 29.14 in D 9.85 in
Isamu Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp, Model BB3-33S, Ozeki & Co., Signed
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Dronten, NL
Light, when filtered through the hands of Isamu Noguchi, becomes architecture. It carves space from shadow, weightless and warm. The BB3-33S is a quiet monument to this philosophy—a ...
Iron
Isamu Noguchi Akari Table Lamp 22N
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Malmö, SE
This is an exceptional table lamp. Designed by Isamu Noguchi and made by Ozeki & Co in Gifu, Japan. Model 22N. The lampshade is created from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing,...
Steel
$950
H 2.63 in W 1.88 in D 2 in
Seiya Style Patinated Bronze Okimono Cat Sculpture - Japan - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Seiya style cast and patinated bronze okimono model of a seated cat with collar and bell - featuring a fine casting with excellent chased details to all sides, including the ...
Bronze
Chrysalis Sky Sculptural Silk Cocoon Floor Lamp by Ango
By Ango
Located in Bangkok, TH
Chrysalis Sky is a sculptural handcrafted floor lamp by Ango, formed from a free composition of hand-selected natural silk cocoons. Each cocoon is surrounded by an aura of ultra-fine...
Organic Material
$624Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 21 in Dm 20.4 in
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
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamps
By Akari, Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A floor lamps. The shades are made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp...
Metal
Pair of monumental Akari Light Sculpture Model UF4-31N by Isamu Noguchi
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of monumental Akari Light Sculpture Model UF4-31N by Isamu Noguchi. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi manufacturer's stamp. Akari light sc...
Metal
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A Floor Lamps
By Akari, Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Los Angeles, 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
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamps
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A floor lamps. The shades are made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp...
Metal
Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A Floor Lamp
By Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari, Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Isamu Noguchi Akari 14A floor lamp. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's st...
Metal
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A Floor Lamp
By Isamu Noguchi, Ozeki & Co. Ltd. 1, Akari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Isamu Noguchi Akari 10A floor lamp. The shade is made from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs with Noguchi Akari manufacturer's stamp. Akari lig...
Metal