The Amica lighting collection brings together organic form, traditional craft, and sculptural illumination in a way that feels quiet, warm, and carefully considered. Made up of pendant, table, and wall-mounted lights, the collection treats lighting as more than a practical object. Each piece has a sculptural presence, shaping the mood of a room through material, texture, shadow, and glow.
Much of Amica’s character comes from the contrast between its materials. Earth-toned ceramic bases give the pieces weight and grounding, while the paper forms bring softness, translucency, and movement. The ceramic surfaces are ridged, irregular, and slightly imperfect, giving them a handmade quality. Set against them, the paper elements feel light and delicate, glowing gently when illuminated and revealing the craft behind every fold, wrap, and curve.
Designer: Christopher Merchant and Kawabi
The collection takes inspiration from natural and familiar forms rather than strict geometry. Pods, fans, lanterns, vessels, and ceremonial objects seem to echo through the work. These references make the lights feel approachable, almost recognizable, but still unusual enough to hold attention. They sit somewhere between functional objects and quiet domestic sculptures.
A few pieces from the larger collection show this language especially clearly. The Standing Legume Lamp is one of the more playful examples. Inspired by the curves of leguminous pods, it stacks two illuminated modules vertically above an offering tray. The form feels like a small gesture toward food, harvest, and ritual. It has a simple presence, but the reference gives it warmth and personality. Rather than reading as a conventional lamp, it feels closer to a small domestic monument.
The Relic I Lamp moves in a more poetic direction. It reimagines the folding fan as a light sculpture, with pleated paper opening out in sweeping arcs. Held upright by a totem-like wood base and anchored by a cast concrete block, the piece captures the feeling of motion paused mid-gesture. There is a sense of air, shadow, and light moving through it, even while the object remains completely still.
The Legume Pendant Horizontal, Double continues the collection’s organic vocabulary. Inspired by strung beans, it turns pod-like curves into a suspended paper illumination system. Its modular structure gives the form flexibility, while the handmade details keep it grounded in craft. Regionally sourced Japanese kozo paper, Shaker-style bentwood caps, and hand-hammered nails bring a sense of material honesty to the piece.
The Souvenir Sconce offers a quieter but equally expressive moment. Mounted to the wall, it shows the undulating paper form from one of its most graceful angles. The construction is minimal, but the silhouette is soft and full of movement. It celebrates pleated lantern craftsmanship with restraint, making a bold statement in a gentle voice.
These works are only a portion of the broader Amica collection. Across its many forms, the collection continues to explore the same relationships between ceramic weight, paper softness, organic silhouettes, and careful detailing. The pieces feel connected, but not repetitive. Each one has its own proportion, gesture, and mood.
What makes Amica compelling is the way it balances opposites: heavy and light, earthy and translucent, structured and organic. The pieces do more than brighten a space. They change how the space feels. Even when unlit, they hold their own as objects with texture, rhythm, and presence.
Amica feels contemporary without losing its connection to older craft traditions. Paper, ceramic, wood, and concrete are used in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. The collection invites slower looking, asking the viewer to notice the ridges, folds, shadows, and small handmade details that give each piece its character.
At its core, Amica is a collection about softness with structure. It turns natural references and crafted processes into luminous objects that feel intimate, expressive, and quietly theatrical.
