‘SPARKLER’ LANTERNS

by Kensaku Oshiro, for Poltrona Frau

For these sophisticated, portable lanterns, which form part of Poltrona Frau’s inaugural outdoor collection, Milan-based Japanese designer Kensaku Oshiro took his cues from the traditional amphoras and wineskins of his adoptive country, as well as the rice paper lamps ubiquitous in his home country. ‘When I was a child, I remember being enchanted by the magic of senko hanabi, or sparklers, which, when burned, generate an incandescent ball that spreads delicate sparks all around.

It brings back memories of time spent with friends and family,’ he says. The lanterns are made from handwoven taupe polypropylene cord attached to a powder-coated aluminium frame, and they come with LED spotlights powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. By day, illuminated by the sun, they create ever-changing chiaroscuro effects, while by night, they exude a warm, intimate light that casts hypnotic shadows on the ground.