Large, white Oba-Q "Ghost" K-Series lamp by Shiro Kuramata (1934-1991) for Yamagiwa, made in Japan in the 1970s. E-26 medium base, 75w max.

The process to make this iconic white lamp was an applied art. Four artisans, one at each corner, held the white acrylic sheet above a mold. The sheet was then warmed, and a person at each corner guided the acrylic down so that the end result resembled the graceful folds of draped fabric. The large size of this spectacular lamp makes a bold statement in a room. 

YEAR: 1970s
COUNTRY: Japan
DIMENSIONS: 
H 23 in. x W 23 in. x D 23 in.
H 58.42 cm x W 58.42 cm x D 58.42 cm
AVAILABLE: 1
MANUFACTURER: Yamigawa
DESIGNER: Shiro Kuramata
MATERIAL: Acrylic 
CONDITION: Excellent
COLOR: White
PRODUCTION: Out of production

 

Shiro Kuramata (born in Japan, 1934-1991) was 20th century Japan’s leading designer. Kuramata continuously pushed boundaries in the most poetic and singular way. After studying architecture in Tokyo and then design at Kuwazawa Design school, Shiro Kuramata opened his own company in 1965, the Kuramata Design Office in Japan. Close to Ettore Sottsass, Shiro Kuramata contributed to the Memphis Milano movement with several pieces of furnishing, working along Alessandro Mendini, Martine Bedin, Andrea Branzi, Aldo Cibic, Michele de Lucchi, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Hans Hollein, Matteo Thun, Javier Mariscal, George Sowden, Marco Zanini.

In 1988 Kuramata moved to Paris where he founds his design workshop. He was made Knight of the Arts by France in 1990 and his work is part of prestigious museum collections like the MoMa and the French and Japanese museums of Decorative Arts. Shiro Kuramata’s elegant work is mostly produced in limited small editions, which makes it so rare.