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Isamu Noguchi

Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) is one of the most singular artists of the 20th-century American period — sculptor, designer, set designer, landscape architect — whose work continuously dialogues between Western modernity and Japanese tradition. His edited furniture catalogue, restricted to a few pieces, includes two objects that have become classics: the Noguchi Coffee Table (1944, edited by Herman Miller then Vitra) and the Akari lamp series (since 1951, manufactured in Gifu). Both are continuously edited and remain active references. LAPIERRE sources and authenticates vintage Herman Miller, Knoll, and Akari Ozeki editions.

A biography across two cultures

Isamu Noguchi was born on 17 November 1904 in Los Angeles, son of Japanese poet Yone Noguchi and American writer Léonie Gilmour. He spent his childhood in Japan (1907-1918), then returned to the United States for secondary education in Indiana. He enrolled in pre-medicine at Columbia University but switched to art in 1924, studying at the Leonardo da Vinci Art School in New York. In 1927, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship and moved to Paris, becoming Constantin Brancusi's assistant for six months — a decisive training in matter, polish, and abstraction.

He then travelled in Asia (1930-1932): Beijing, Tokyo, where he met his father for the first time and discovered Japanese ceramic tradition. Back in the United States, he developed sculptural work that dialogues between Western abstraction (Brancusi, Calder) and Japanese tradition (ceramic, garden). During the Second World War, he voluntarily enlisted in the Japanese-American internment camp at Poston (Arizona) in 1942 — six painful months that would mark his work.

The Noguchi Coffee Table (1944)

The table designed in 1944 and edited by Herman Miller from 1947 summarises his approach: a biomorphic glass top resting on two hand-sculpted wooden pieces that join in a V, one serving as a pivot axis. The shape of the top evokes Brancusi's sculptures but also natural forms of pebbles or leaves. The manufacturing process — thick glass with precise edges, massive sculpted wood — has remained identical since 1947. Herman Miller produced it in the United States until 1973, interrupted, then resumed in 1984. In 2002, Vitra obtained the rights for Europe and produces it in its German factory.

The Akari lamps (1951-)

In 1951, travelling to Gifu (Japan), Noguchi visited the Ozeki Lantern Co. workshops, specialised since the 17th century in traditional chôchin lanterns made of washi paper and bamboo. There he designed the first Akari — Japanese akari meaning both "light" and "lightness." The series counts more than 100 models today, all hand-made in Gifu by Ozeki using traditional techniques. Each Akari bears the red Akari signature and the Isamu Noguchi copyright printed on the paper. The series is distributed worldwide by Vitra (Europe) and the Noguchi Museum (US).

Other pieces

  • Cyclone Table (1954) — Table edited by Knoll, structure in lacquered steel rods (similar to the Tulip Saarinen base), wood or marble top.
  • Sofas and seating prototypes — A few briefly-edited pieces (Goodyear chair 1939, Rocking Stool, Prismatic Table) rarer on the market.

Recognising the authentic

Coffee Table: Herman Miller marking (vintage US 1947-1973) or Vitra marking (Europe 2002+) under the base. Thick glass top 19 mm with precise biomorphic edges. Solid wood (American walnut, ash, ebony) sculpted.

Akari: red Akari signature + Isamu Noguchi copyright printed on washi paper. Paper with irregular translucent grain, bamboo structure and coiled metal wire.

Cyclone Table: Knoll marking under the base, structure in black lacquered steel rods.

Market and prices

  • Vintage Coffee Table Herman Miller (1947-1973): 4,000-7,000 EUR depending on wood species and condition.
  • Vitra Coffee Table (2002+): 2,000-3,000 EUR, more accessible.
  • Akari 1A: 150-300 EUR vintage, 250-450 EUR new.
  • Akari 75A large size: 600-1,500 EUR vintage, 800-1,800 EUR new.
  • Cyclone Table: 2,500-6,000 EUR depending on top (rare marble most expensive).

LAPIERRE process for this signature

Sourcing primarily in the United States (Coffee Table Herman Miller vintage), Japan (Akari Ozeki), Italy (Cyclone Table Knoll). Systematic authentication via marking and provenance. Akari, particularly delicate (paper sensitive to humidity), ship in rigid packaging protecting the washi paper. The Coffee Table ships disassembled to limit risk of impacts on the glass top.

Request a search

If you're looking for a specific Noguchi piece (vintage Herman Miller walnut Coffee Table, specific Akari model, marble Cyclone Table), contact us.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who was Isamu Noguchi?
Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) was a Japanese-American sculptor and designer, born in Los Angeles to a Japanese poet (Yone Noguchi) and an American writer (Léonie Gilmour). He studied sculpture, became Constantin Brancusi's assistant in Paris in 1927, and developed a body of work at the boundary between sculpture and design. His catalogue mixes monumental sculptures (Sunken Garden Chase Manhattan, UNESCO Garden Paris), washi paper lamps (the Akari series, since 1951), and industrially-produced furniture — the Noguchi Coffee Table (1944) remains one of the most reproduced pieces of American design. The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City (NY), opened in 1985, preserves all his work.
How do I authenticate a Noguchi Coffee Table?
The Noguchi Coffee Table (reference IN-50) has been edited by Herman Miller since 1947, with an interruption between 1973 and 1984. An authentic piece presents: thick glass top (3/4 inch, ~19 mm) with precise biomorphic edges, two pieces of wood (American walnut, ash, or ebony) hand-sculpted and joined in a V — one serves as a pivot axis, the other as support. The Herman Miller marking is generally underneath the wooden base. Current reissues (Vitra in Europe since 2002) bear the Vitra marking. Non-licensed copies use thinner glass, often veneered wood, and less precise edges.
Which Noguchi pieces do you source?
Our sourcing focuses on authenticated editions: Noguchi Coffee Table (Herman Miller US or Vitra Europe), Akari lamps (all sizes, mainly Models 24N, 33N, 75A, 1A — original washi paper Ozeki Lantern Co.), Cyclone Table (Knoll, 1954, wood or marble top, lacquered steel base). Coffee Table pieces in original Herman Miller American walnut from 1947-1973 are the most collectable. Authenticated Akari lamps bear the Ozeki paper seal and the Noguchi copyright.
Vintage Noguchi Coffee Table vs Vitra reissue — what's the difference?
Herman Miller edited the Coffee Table from 1947 to 1973 (qualified as vintage US edition), interruption until 1984, then resumption with Vitra in Europe from 2002. Herman Miller US pieces 1947-1973 bear the Herman Miller marking under the base and use original American walnut, ash, or ebony. Contemporary Vitra editions bear the Vitra marking. A vintage Herman Miller Coffee Table in walnut in good condition positions between 4,000 and 7,000 EUR, compared to 2,000-3,000 EUR for a Vitra reissue and 200-800 EUR for a non-licensed copy (no resale value).
Authentic Akari lamps vs imitations?
Akari lamps have been produced since 1951 in Gifu (Japan) by Ozeki Lantern Co. with traditional washi paper, bamboo, and coiled wire. An authentic Akari bears the red Akari signature + the Isamu Noguchi copyright printed on the paper. The washi paper has irregular grain and specific translucency. Imitations use industrial rice paper or synthetic paper, have no signature, and present too-uniform grain. Akari are distributed by Vitra in Europe and the Noguchi Museum in the US. A vintage authentic Akari 1A positions around 200-400 EUR, a 75A large size 600-1,500 EUR.
How is a Noguchi Coffee Table delivered?
The Noguchi Coffee Table is heavy (about 25 kg, of which 18 kg for the glass top). The top is fragile to impacts — wooden crate or triple cardboard packaging with precision foam. Wooden legs must be protected from lateral impacts. For Paris and Île-de-France, delivery in our internal van with assembly. For France, specialised carrier. Typical delays: 7 to 14 days.