The mild diffused light that flows out of a paper lantern creates a desirable effect for a glowing room, but it doesn’t spell “quality”. The paper can easily rip if you move it, and it typically comes in very basic bulbs or table lamps that are as common to college dorm decoration as are lofted beds. Designer Samuel Chan designed the Otus lamp for Mossi this year that achieves the lantern-like glow but is finished in oak.

Otus Lamp. Designed by Samuel Chan for Mossi.

The Otus Lamp by Samuel Chan for Mossi Combines Oak and the Glow of a Lantern

Otus, also deemed “transparency in oak” combines its round body with a slatted, semi-transparent look for interesting light distribution. Similar in look to the rounded Bubo bubo ottomans/side tables by Mossi, these lamps can be positioned on the floor with an angled, cylindrical oak base or as a hanging lamp version, with the sphere flying solo.

Inside the dark brown or natural oak exterior the Otus lamps house a frosted glass shaft. This makes sure you’re satisfied with its lovely glow and keeps the wood and heat of the light protected, regardless of which size lamp you choose. The floor lamp comes in large – 200cm H x 80cm dia., medium – 170cm H x 58cm dia., or small sizes – 130cm H x 50cm dia. The hanging lamp comes in large – 79.4cm H x 80cm dia. or a medium size – 50cm H x 58cm dia.

Elegant and realistic like its mother company, Mossi – which signifies “sparrow” in South African – the Otus lamp was made by Chan who has been woodworking since he was a mere schoolboy. Graduating from the Buckinghamshire Chiltern University in the UK, he continued on to do interior design in hotels before pursuing his passion for designing furniture.

The Mossi website reflects on Chan’s design trademarks saying he uses “purity of line proportion, and superb craftsmanship” in each of his pieces, “always expressing the beauty and strength of natural wood materials in innovative and imaginative ways”. Like an archetypal design to Chan, the Otus lamp warmly accepts all of the above.