‘Formakami JH18’ lamp by Jaime Hayon for &Tradition

The form: A table lamp in a softened version of a sphere on a cylinder, made from rice paper on fine bamboo ribs with black-stained oak bands at waist and base. What makes it special: Spain’s most recognised designer of recent decades, Jaime (pronounced Hay-mee) Hayon, works for key international furniture and lighting brands from Denmark to the US. He has also found time to build his own brands across different disciplines, including Orolog and Jijibaba. As an extension of his ‘Formakami’ series of rice paper pendants, ‘JH18’ for Danish brand &Tradition takes the style and materials of the earlier hanging lights and literally turns them upside down. As the name ‘Formakami’ suggests, Hayon takes inspiration from Japanese lanterns but uses exaggerated forms and black timber bands to add a graphic quality. ‘Formakami’ is in many ways a contemporary version of Isamu Noguchi’s famous Akari lanterns, first introduced in the 1950s. Like all lamps made from paper, the harsh light of the electric bulbs is pleasingly softened as it passes through the shade. Expect to pay: $390. Buy from: Cult Design, cultdesign.com.au.