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Fatih Arslan published a tour of the designer lamps in his home, describing pieces by Artemide, Isamu Noguchi, Louis Poulsen and others. He says the lamps are costly and not necessarily worth their prices on practical grounds, but that collecting makes them valuable to him.
Designer and lamp collector Fatih Arslan published a tour of the lamps in his home on October 5, describing the histories and personal appeal of pieces by Artemide, Isamu Noguchi and Louis Poulsen. The account offers a firsthand look at how he uses and collects the designs, while acknowledging that many cost far more than a lamp chosen simply to light a room.
Arslan says he began the tour after people who saw lamps he shared on social media repeatedly asked about their brands and models. He describes the collection as personal rather than a guide to the most economical lighting: the lamps are expensive, he writes, and may not be worth their price for illumination alone. For him, their appeal is closer to collecting than furnishing a room.
The tour includes the Artemide Tolomeo Mini, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1987, and the Tizio Micro, a smaller version of Richard Sapper’s 1972 desk lamp. Arslan highlights the Tolomeo’s adjustability and says he made an adaptor to attach his to a USM Haller desk. The Tizio’s arms conduct electricity, while counterweights let the lamp remain in position when moved.
Several lamps are from Isamu Noguchi’s Akari series, including the 1A, 3A, 16A and 75A. Arslan describes the lamps’ washi-paper construction and differing scale, and says he bought the 16A before later moving it from his office to his bedroom. The collection also includes Poul Henningsen’s PH 5 and PH 3/2, and Arne Jacobsen’s adjustable AJ wall lamp. Arslan notes that he accidentally broke the PH 3/2’s glass shade and waited months for a replacement.
Collecting Beyond Basic Lighting
Arslan’s tour makes clear that his collection is not presented as a cost-effective way to illuminate a home. Its value, in his account, comes from design, history and personal attachment as well as function. That distinction matters to readers weighing whether to buy a high-priced design piece: the same product can be a practical light for one person and a collectible for another.
His examples also show how established designs remain visible in everyday interiors. The Tolomeo’s familiar form has been copied by IKEA and other manufacturers, he writes, while the Noguchi lamps are valued for their sculptural appearance as well as their glow. The tour therefore connects design heritage with ordinary home use, without arguing that the original is the right purchase for everyone.
Arslan points readers toward alternatives, saying well-designed lamps are available from IKEA for about a tenth of the price and that vintage shops or fairs can offer lower-cost finds. These are his observations, not a price survey, but they underline the practical choice between buying for function and collecting a specific design.
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Design Histories Behind the Lamps
Arslan’s descriptions place the lamps in a longer design history. He says the Tolomeo won the Compasso d’Oro in 1989. Sapper designed the Tizio after wanting a better lamp for his own desk. Its exposed mechanical structure and red details reflect choices that Arslan connects to Sapper’s other work, including the red TrackPoint on the IBM ThinkPad.
The Akari series began after Noguchi visited Gifu, Japan, in 1951, according to Arslan. Noguchi used washi paper to soften the light and form lightweight sculptural shapes. Arslan says the lamps continue to be made by hand at Ozeki, a family-run workshop in Gifu, using traditional methods. He also notes that authentic Akaris carry a red sun-and-moon stamp.
The PH designs reflect Henningsen’s work with layered shades to soften light. Arslan traces the three-shade system to 1925 and says the PH 3/2 was its first lamp; the PH 5 followed in 1958. Jacobsen designed the AJ lamp in 1957 for Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel, where he also designed other interiors and furnishings. These details explain why the pieces have significance beyond their use in Arslan’s rooms.
“Are they worth it? Probably not for their price, but for me they are worth every penny.”
— Fatih Arslan
Prices and Sourcing Remain Personal
The report does not give the purchase prices, total value or number of lamps in Arslan’s collection. It also does not provide a detailed account of where he acquired each piece, beyond saying he obtained the Akari 1A secondhand in Germany and that some lamps can be found at vintage shops or fairs.
Arslan’s estimate that IKEA lamps may cost around a tenth as much is not tied to specific models, dates or a defined comparison. It should be read as his general observation, not a verified price ratio. The tour is a personal account, rather than an independent assessment of the lamps’ market value or manufacturing details.
The source text cuts off during Arslan’s description of how he uses the AJ wall lamp, after saying he sometimes points it in a particular direction. It does not provide the rest of that explanation, so the full account of his use of the lamp is unclear.
No Further Announcement Reported
The October 5 post is presented as a tour of Arslan’s existing collection, not as an announcement of a new lamp or a planned sale. The source does not identify a scheduled follow-up, new release or forthcoming event. Readers may look to Arslan’s original post for any later additions or corrections, but no next milestone is stated in the material provided.
For readers interested in the designs, the immediate next step is to use the names and model numbers in the tour to check availability and current pricing with manufacturers or secondhand sellers. Prices and condition can vary, especially for vintage pieces; Arslan does not provide buying advice or guarantee that any particular model is available.
Key Questions
What did Fatih Arslan publish?
He published a tour of the lamps in his home, describing their designers, histories, features and his personal reasons for owning them.
Which lamp brands and designs appear in the tour?
The collection includes an Artemide Tolomeo Mini, a Tizio Micro, four Akari models, Louis Poulsen PH 5 and PH 3/2 lamps, and an AJ wall lamp by Arne Jacobsen.
Does Arslan say the lamps are worth their prices?
He says they may not be worth their prices for their lighting function alone, but that they are worth it to him as a collector. That is his personal judgment, not a general price assessment.
Are cheaper alternatives available?
Arslan says IKEA offers well-designed lamps for around a tenth of the price and that vintage shops or fairs can have lower-cost finds. The report does not compare specific models or verify the price estimate.
What is not known from the report?
It does not state the lamps’ purchase prices, the collection’s total value or a complete sourcing history. The source also ends before Arslan finishes explaining how he directs the AJ wall lamp.
Source: hn
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