Memento Lamp

Being that Indians all over the world (including yours truly) are currently celebrating Diwali — aka the festival of lights — it feels appropriate that I write an article about my favorite luminaire this week… that being the intelligent Memento Lamp. This clever lighting concept sure makes a statement with its emblematic numerical shapes that highlight the shift of design rites in the A&D world. The lamp may have been tinged with something as hackneyed as numbers, but the end result is nothing less than splendid. [via Freshome]

Memento Lamp. Designed by Hiroshi Yoneya and Yumi Masuko. Manufactured by Cassina.

There is certain energy to the Memento Lamp that’s further accentuated once it’s switched on, when you’ll witness a dazzling play of light and shadow. Designed by Hiroshi Yoneya and Yumi Masuko, the Memento Lamp is only available in the Land of Rising Sun (that's Japan for those who are not smarter than a fifth grader). The Memento Lamp is manufactured by Cassina IXC, one of the leading furniture brands in Japan. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell this product is not available via Cassina USA so for all our American readers you can look but not touch.

Memento Lamp

Memento Lamp

The Memento Lamp grabs your attention and holds it each time you look. It's obvious that Yoneya and Masuko envisaged the lamp as a vibrant creation that becomes an integral part of your everyday routine. Thanks to its numerical patterns and muted glow, the lamp creates an ambiance of calm quietude and also brings in a healthy dose of fantasy.

In Hinduism, the lighting of a lamp during Diwali symbolizes spiritual light permeating the earth and annihilating darkness. While the Memento Lamp is far from a religious object (thank god for that), there is a certain numinous quality to it that makes it my personal favorite object this week.

Leave a Reply