Hotaru Buoy Pendant Light, 2015

Hotaru Buoy pendant light by Barber Osgerby for Ozeki + Co Ltd.

In collaboration with twentytwentyone, leading British designers Barber & Osgerby have created a new range of lighting drawing on the heritage of Japanese lantern-making. The Hotaru range, launched at the London Festival of Design 2015, represents the perfect unison of traditional craft with an enduring aesthetic that is as modern as it is timeless.

Named after the Japanese word for ‘firefly’, the collection is manufactured by Ozeki & Co Ltd, a celebrated Japanese company dedicated to making paper lanterns since 1891. Ozeki have previously collaborated with numerous Japanese artists and designers and worked with Isamu Noguchi on the production of his Akari light sculptures.

“We have always loved the simplicity and beauty of Japanese paper lanterns and have often talked about designing them. In 2012 whilst Edward was travelling through central Japan he visited Ozeki, the famous paper lantern manufacturer to learn more about the craft. After a conversation with the owner of the family-run business this project was born.” Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby.

There are two different lantern shapes in the Hotaru range. Double Bubble derives its strong, sculptural profile from the fusing of twin spheres, while Buoy is inspired by a maritime marker – at once anchored and weightless.

Each design is available in large or small sizes and can be used singly or grouped, to dramatic effect.

The Hotaru collection was awarded the Design Guild Mark in 2022.