Mari Mino Washi Lantern Lamp by Asano

Mari Mino Washi Lantern Lamp by Asano — a full washi sphere on a slim frame, a traditional Gifu lantern made for the modern floor.

Made by Asano Shoten in Gifu, Japan.

The Design Story

In Gifu, lantern-making has been a craft since the Edo period, fed by the clear Nagara River, the forests of Mount Kinka and the paper mills of nearby Mino. Asano Shoten opened there in 1917 and has stayed with the chochin ever since: bamboo ribs wound by hand, washi pasted on sheet by sheet, edges cut with a razor. Since 1999 its lantern forms have been drawn in CAD and laser-cut, so a century-old technique can carry modern shapes. Nearly every material, from the paper to the parts, comes from Gifu Prefecture.

Why You’ll Love It

The Mari is a Gifu lantern freed from its hook. Mino washi turns the bulb into a warm, even glow, and the shape, a full washi sphere on a slim frame, is as calm off as it is on. It weighs almost nothing, so it can follow you from the living room to the bedroom.

Made for Real Life

It assembles quickly and needs only a gentle dusting. For a group, add Donguri Mino Washi Lantern Lamp by Asano or Tawara Mino Washi Lantern Lamp by Asano. A light pass with a hand duster or a soft cloth is all the paper needs; press lightly, keep it dry.

Product Details

Where It Shines

Beside a sofa or bed, in a reading nook, an entry, or on a low bench.

Questions We Hear Most

What does Mari mean?

“Ball” in Japanese, a nod to the lantern’s shape.

What paper is the Mari made of?

Mino washi, the fine Japanese paper made in Gifu Prefecture.

What size is the Mari in centimetres?

49.8 cm high and 36.8 cm wide.

Which bulb goes in the Mari?

An E17 bulb up to 25 W; a warm LED suits the paper best.

Floor or table: where does the Mari belong? (our styling advice)

Both: at about 50 cm it glows beautifully on the floor by a sofa, and just as well on a low bench or wide sideboard.

Can the Mari be grouped with other Asano lanterns? (our styling advice)

Yes: set it beside its sibling shapes at slightly different distances for a soft cluster of light.

For the Trade

Specifying soft lighting for a client’s home, a spa, a ryokan-style hotel or a restaurant? Members of the LoftModern Trade Program (interior designers, architects, contractors, builders, home stagers and commercial buyers) receive trade pricing, up to 20% off retail on eligible brands, plus round-the-clock concierge support for stock checks and lead times. Apply once with your business details; we reply by email with your account.

Why We Love It

A century of Gifu craft, in a lamp you can carry with one hand.

Shipping Info