Make A Japanese Lamp

The traditional ANDON oil lamp entered the Japanese scene during the Edo Period and took on many forms. The lamp consisted of paper stretched over a frame of bamboo or wood. The paper protected the flame from the wind. They were usually open on the top and bottom to allow air flow. The lamps often had a handle which allowed them to be carried from room to room or suspended from a hook.

The lamp shown in my images is made using Rosewood for the frame and Basswood for the Shoji side panels and Kumiko top panel. Timbers without too much, if any, figure are traditionally preferred. I have used Jelutong successfully for Shoji and Kumiko as the timber has little figure, is easy to work with and readily available. The Jelutong can be milled and dressed to 10mm x 5 mm strips using the workshop machinery. The frame can be coated, after assembly, with your preferred finish but the panels should remain raw.

The Shoji side panels, after sanding flat, are covered on the inside face with Washi Paper which can be obtained from JTA or a Western Australia supplier through e-bay. It is important to fix the Washi paper using Craft Glue, not wood glue, instructions should be supplied with your paper purchase.

I have used 6mm MDF, painted black for the bottom panel which supports the lamp base. The lamp holder should be connected to the cord, supplied with an in-line switch, by a licensed Electrician. The lamp shown is lit using a low wattage LED candle globe.