Akari VB1

Name: Akari VB1
Brand: The Noguchi Museum
SKU: A:VB1
Price: 2400.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Designed c. 1986

The Akari VB1 is one of the last Akari light sculptures designed by Isamu Noguchi, created for his solo exhibition in the American Pavilion at the 1986 Venice Biennale. It features mulberry bark washi paper, and is crafted without the use of bamboo ribbing (higo). Each of the three corners of its pyramidal form are constructed with white cotton strings. The strings may be tied to three included washi paper-wrapped stones, which are sourced in Japan by Akari’s manufacturer, Ozeki & Co.

Learn more about the history of the Akari VB1.

$2,400

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Select a model:

VB1: 26

32
VB3: 26

35

IN STOCK. Ships in 1-2 weeks.

Width: 32.3" / 82 cm
Depth: 32.3" / 82 cm
Height: 25.6" / 65 cm
Length: 6 - 20' / 183 - 610 cm

Orders shipping within the contiguous United States are sent via UPS Ground.

Orders shipping within the five boroughs of New York City are available for delivery via messenger service. If you select this option at checkout we will contact you by email to arrange a delivery date.

Orders shipping to Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, or other outlying U.S. Islands are shipped via DHL.

We can not ship to P.O. Boxes or to international freight forwarding operations.

Akari may be returned within 30 days of delivery. They must be in undamaged and unused condition. The cost of shipping is the responsibility of the customer. Please see our Shipping & Returns page for more detailed information.

Origin: Made in Japan
Materials: Washi paper, bamboo, cotton, steel, stones
Bulb Included: No
Suggested Bulb: Up to 60W equivalent E26 LED

Hardwire Kit: 6 or 20' of white cord, 120-240v, 5" round white canopy
Plug-in Kit: 18' of white cord, 120-240v, on/off rocker switch, two-prong plug

FAQs

Akari are made in Gifu, Japan, an area known for its manufacture of paper lanterns called chochin. Akari are fabricated by Ozeki & Co., a family company founded in 1891 that specializes in traditional methods of making chochin lanterns. Ozeki & Co. have been manufacturing Akari since 1951.

See more information about the history and manufacturing of Akari in our digital feature: History of Akari Light Sculptures.

North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)

We (The Noguchi Museum) sell Akari directly through this online store and at our brick and mortar museum shop in New York City.

Select Akari are sometimes temporarily available through our exhibition partners; currently at Peabody Essex Museum in MA for Isamu Noguchi: I am not a designer, and Barnes Foundation in PA for Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America.

Japan

Ozeki & Co. sell Akari directly through their online store, their Tokyo showroom, and through various resellers in the region, including The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum Japan in Mure.

Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East

Vitra sells Akari directly through their online store and through authorized design partners in these regions.

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