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Fatih Arslan published a tour of the designer lamps in his home, describing their design histories, practical uses and personal significance. He says the lamps are expensive and may not be worth their prices for illumination alone, while noting that similar-looking designs and secondhand options can cost less.
Designer Fatih Arslan has published a tour of the lamps in his home, featuring pieces by Artemide, Louis Poulsen and Isamu Noguchi’s Akari series. The October 5 report pairs descriptions of how he uses the lamps with their design histories, while acknowledging that the collection is expensive and that its value is personal rather than purely practical.
Arslan’s collection includes the Artemide Tolomeo Mini, Richard Sapper’s Tizio Micro, a Louis Poulsen PH 5 and a tilting AJ wall lamp designed by Arne Jacobsen. He also owns several Akari lamps, Noguchi’s sculptural series made from traditional Japanese paper. Arslan says the photographs accompanying the report were taken in his own home.
The objects serve different purposes. Arslan describes the Tolomeo as a movable desk lamp and says he made an adaptor to attach it to his USM Haller desk. The Akari models provide softer, sculptural lighting in different rooms: he moved an Akari 16A from his office to the bedroom, while the wider Akari 75A took its place in the office. He says the 75A, roughly 75 centimeters across, has a strong presence in the room.
Some entries include practical cautions. Arslan says the glass PH 3/2 broke after an accident, and that he waited months for a replacement. He describes the AJ wall lamp’s tilting head as useful for changing the direction of its light. These are personal observations, not comparative tests of performance or durability.
Collecting Beyond Practical Lighting
Arslan’s account distinguishes buying a lamp for illumination from collecting it for its design and history. He writes that the lamps are not cheap and are probably not worth their price if judged only as lighting, but that he considers them worth the cost to him. That distinction helps readers understand why the collection includes objects chosen for their authorship, form and place in design history as well as their use at home.
The post also offers a more affordable route for readers drawn to the look. Arslan says IKEA and other companies sell lamps that resemble some of the designs, potentially at a fraction of the price, and that original pieces can sometimes be found at vintage stores or fairs for good prices. He does not provide specific prices or recommend particular alternatives.
designer desk lamps Artemide Tolomeo Mini
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Design Histories Behind the Lamps
The report links individual lamps to wider design histories. Arslan says the Tolomeo was designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1987 and won the Compasso d’Oro in 1989. Sapper designed the Tizio in 1972; its arms carry electricity, avoiding wires along their length, and counterweights let users reposition it. The Micro is a smaller version of the lamp.
Noguchi began the Akari series in 1951 after visiting Gifu, Japan, a city associated with paper lanterns. Arslan describes the lamps as made from washi paper and says they are still produced by hand at Ozeki, a family-run workshop in Gifu. He also notes that genuine Akari lamps carry a red sun-and-moon stamp. According to the report, Noguchi designed more than 100 models.
The two Louis Poulsen lamps represent different stages of Poul Henningsen’s lighting work. Arslan dates the three-shade system to 1925 and the PH 5 to 1958, describing both as designs intended to soften light. Jacobsen’s AJ lamp, meanwhile, was designed in 1957 for Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel, where Arslan says Jacobsen designed a wide range of furnishings and fittings.
“Are they worth it? Probably not for their price, but for me they are worth every penny.”
— Fatih Arslan
Prices and Alternatives Are Unspecified
The report does not list purchase prices, the total value of the collection or the availability of particular models. Arslan’s description of vintage-store and fair prices as “very good” is a personal assessment; it is not supported by market data or a price comparison. The article also does not identify specific IKEA alternatives or assess how their light quality, materials or construction compare with the named lamps.
Arslan’s remarks about design history and production are presented in his personal report. The article does not include independent verification, interviews with the manufacturers or a full account of each model’s production history. His comments about which lamps work best in particular rooms reflect his experience in his own home.
No Follow-Up Is Announced
Arslan’s report is a home tour rather than an announcement of a product launch or planned change to his collection. It does not identify a follow-up article, event or next milestone. Readers looking for particular models or lower-cost options would need to check current retailer and secondhand listings, since the report gives no purchasing information.
Key Questions
Which lamps are featured in Fatih Arslan’s home tour?
The report features an Artemide Tolomeo Mini, a Tizio Micro, several Isamu Noguchi Akari models, Louis Poulsen PH 5 and PH 3/2 lamps, and an Arne Jacobsen AJ wall lamp.
Does Arslan say the lamps are worth their prices?
He says they are probably not worth their prices if judged only as lamps, but that they are worth the cost to him. He describes the interest as collecting as much as buying practical lighting.
Are there less expensive alternatives?
Arslan says IKEA and other companies sell lamps that look similar to some of the designs, and that the originals may be found at vintage shops or fairs. He does not name specific alternatives or give prices.
What is distinctive about the Akari lamps?
Arslan describes the Akari series as sculptural lamps made from washi paper. He says they are still made by hand at Ozeki in Gifu, Japan, and that authentic pieces carry a red sun-and-moon stamp.
Source: hn
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