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Unique Isamu Noguchi #32N Akari Light Sculpture, ink signed: Noguchi 5/5 '68

$12,000List Price

Shop All Isamu Noguchi

Isamu Noguchi

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 70N Light Sculpture, Ozeki & Co., Japan

$1,250

H 13 in Dm 27.56 in

Isamu Noguchi Akari 70N Light Sculpture, Ozeki & Co., Japan

By Isamu Noguchi

Located in Dronten, NL

Akari 70N lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi, 1951. Manufactured by Ozeki & Co. in Japan. Bambu structure covered by washi paper. Wired for U.S. standards. New cord and black ena...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi, Akari Light Sculpture, model S2, Japan 1970s

$8,000

H 35.83 in Dm 17.33 in

Isamu Noguchi, Akari Light Sculpture, model S2, Japan 1970s

By Isamu Noguchi

Located in Wargrave, Berkshire

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, model S2 suspension lamp with sun and moon ideogram together with the original paper bag stamped S2 Noguchi designed his series of Akari light s...

Category

Vintage 1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Metal

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 45X Ceiling Lamp

$608Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 17.7 in W 17.7 in D 17.7 in

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 45X 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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 31N Ceiling Lamp

$1,280Sale Price|32% Off

H 63 in Dm 13 in

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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 30D Ceiling Lamp

$480 / item

H 11.8 in Dm 10.6 in

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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 50EN Ceiling Lamp

$536Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 9.8 in Dm 19.6 in

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 50EN 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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 26A Ceiling Lamp

$550 / item

H 10 in Dm 17.7 in

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 26A 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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 55D Ceiling Lamp

$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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari Light Sculpture, Model 70EN Ceiling Lamp

$1,184Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 13 in Dm 27.5 in

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...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Isamu Noguchi Akari 33N Light Sculpture, Ozeki & Co., Japan

$1,660

H 62.21 in W 18.51 in D 18.51 in

Isamu Noguchi Akari 33N Light Sculpture, Ozeki & Co., Japan

By Isamu Noguchi

Located in Dronten, NL

Akari 33N lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi, 1951. Manufactured by Ozeki & Co. in Japan. Bambu structure covered by washi paper. Wired for U.S. standards....

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

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Large Post Modern Art Glass Pendant Lamp attributed to Venini

By Venini

Located in Chicago, IL

A Large Post Modern Art Glass Pendant Lamp attributed to Venini A white glass body with a purple threaded rim band. Comes with wiring and ceiling cap. Please request additional ph...

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Large Vintage Modern Aluminum Hanging Pull Light Pendant

By Gerald Thurston, Imperialites, Edward Wormley, Lightolier

Located in Chicago, IL

Very nice large scale Aluminum Pull Light Pendant. Nice composition of aluminum parts to create a nice overall form to hang from a ceiling. Ceiling Cap, Pull Cord Holder, Large re...

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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Aluminum

Unusual Scarce Vintage Reflector Sconce Attributed to Kurt Versen

By Greta Magnusson Grossman, Kurt Versen, Nessen Lighting

Located in Chicago, IL

Unusual Scarce Vintage Reflector Sconce Attributed to Kurt Versen Have yet to identify this unusual lamp period reflector sconce. Appears to be Ameri...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Vintage Large Mid Century Studio Ceramic Lamp / Bob Kinzie Affiliated Craftsmen

By Affiliated Craftsmen, Bob Kinzie, Peter Voulkos

Located in Chicago, IL

Vintage Mid Century Studio Ceramic Lamp / Bob Kinzie for Affiliated Craftsmen Beautiful Studio Example with Affiliated Craftsmen Label attached to Original Socket Diameter about 11...

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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

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Ceramic

RAAK Chandelier Lamp Ceiling Fixture / Sonneman Gaetano Sciolari / Lightolier

By RAAK

Located in Chicago, IL

An eight pendant RAAK chandelier. Very nice scale for residential or office. The lamp hanging length can be modified longer or shorter (easily) to ones taste. One globe replaced wit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Chrome

Large David Cressey Vintage Ceramic Lamp Base

By Gordon & Jane Martz

Located in Chicago, IL

A large Danish modern style vintage ceramic lamp base by David Cressey. In the manner of Gordon Martz.

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Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

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A New Exhibition Spotlights the Nuance of 1940s Art and Design

Works by a range of designers and artists prove that the constraints of the time didn't stifle creativity.

How Noguchi Elevated Ashtrays to Objets d’Art

Smoking might have fallen out of fashion, but these ashtrays have enduring design appeal.

Unique Isamu Noguchi #32N Akari Light Sculpture, ink signed: Noguchi 5/5 '68

About the Item

Isamu Noguchi

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