Customer Reviews

Making Japanese-Style Lamps and Lanterns

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I ordered this book and began to study the diagrams and directions. I soon found that the diagrams and the directions are not the same.The diagram will show a piece cut at 14 inches the directions say cut the same piece at 14 3/4 etc... these kinds of inconsistancies are numerous in every project and if you study the pictures it is clear that the person who built these lamps did not follow his own directions. This book was very poorly put together. I have bought many books with project plans and have never bought one with as many mistakes throughout the whole book.

I agree that the designs are beautiful, but one must really review the cutting measurements and material supply measurements before attempting to construct any of these lamps. I am currently building the Wisteria (Fuji) Floor Lantern and have found numerous errors in specs. I am a novice woodworker, but even I can spot these errors.

I built the lantern depicted on the cover of the book first which looks beautiful. Other lanterns throughout the book are equally beautiful. The plan measurements, however, do not match the diagrams. Of course, I didn't catch this until after I made all my cuts and started putting it together. The lack of description only compounded my frustration. If you're interested in this book, I'd advise you to use it as a basic guide. You'll have to fill in the blanks yourself. All in all, the book provides exquisite examples of Japanese lamps so I'm glad I bought it.

Wonderful photos of finished designs and great drawings of key assembly points and joinery. Some woodworking experience required. The author does not walk you through every basic step of cutting and shaping parts for the designs. Readers can easily redraw dimensioned drawings of parts to full size templates. Very inspiring for design and construction of similar objects.

This book is an excellent resource and presents many beautiful shoji lamp styles and accommpanying plans to make them. Reading it has resulted in our having now completed 8 lamps, 6 for our own home and 2 for friends. We recommend the book!

As a source of ideas on building Japanese lanterns, this book is fantastic. I had to take some points off on the instructions, though. I built the Morning Glory table lantern, and the instructions didn't quite match the picture of the finished piece, although I spotted it right off and was able to correct for it to match it to the picture.

If you're a novice woodworker, you WILL be able to build these pieces if you have the tools. However, you'll need to be careful with the measurements and read the instructions thoroughly beforehand to figure out where they're wrong.

Also, a suggestion based on my experiences: although you can get shoji paper with a higher percentage of synthetic materials to make it stronger, that paper may have less shrinkage when you spray it to get the "tight" look that is associated with shoji screens. You can still use the partly synthetic shoji paper, just make sure you fit it well when you glue it to the framework of the lamp as it won't shrink as much as you may think.

This book is full of beautiful projects, but beware. It is also full of errors and inconsistencies. Be sure to read the instructions fully to make sure everything makes sense and that instructions at different points agree. Example: on one project it tells you to use half inch wood, but the assembly instructions call for 3/4 inch wood. In another place a drawing shows a part to be 8 inches, but when you extrapolate it makes the project 7 feet wide.
I expect to build several projects, but I now know to proceed with caution.

This is a beautiful looking book describing some wonderfully nice looking and creatively constructed lamps. The photographs of the lamps are high quality, and the book is like the works illustrated, clean and simple in presentation. I was going to give it 4 stars based on a gut feeling, but felt I was stretching to find something negative, thus I've given it the benefit of the doubt. I can see that others note where some measurements are off in places, but the presentation and style and beauty of the final product made me go for the higher rating in the end. Just be wary during construction, you will be fine.

The 18 designs are amply distributed around various types and themes. You will need a reasonably well equipped workshop to complete many of them or a willingness to work the wood in various ways otherwise (including the optional use of Japanese hand tools). I bought the book mostly for inspiration as to ideas for my own lamps, and as to that, the book fit the bill fine. One could extrapolate the designs in this book and enlarge them to make some really wild house/room lighting. So if you lean toward this kind of style, you will probably find this book to your liking. You must follow the guidelines for lamp distance and temperatures if using the paper approach here. I'd consider substituting an approppriate plastic or glass where possible, and when it wouldn't impact the artistic presentation of the lamp.

All in all, when considering the content and potential for reward even if building only one, you will find that this book is likely going to represent money well spent. I look forward to any sequel.

...and more. Japan's influence has come full circle in so many positively historical and cultural ways. This book bears out the evidence of that influence as a contribution to the world's hunger and need for spiritual peace,tranquility, calming environs. The inspiration I received from the designs of these lanterns, did so much service to me, as a kind of "jumping-off" point, to help me develop my own interpretations, shows that power of influence continues.
The illustrations and instructions were nearly elegant in their simplicity, and further enhanced the grace of a few of my personal favorites. The design principles of balance,symmetry and continuity used in these lanterns draw so much from nature and the elements, fundamentally, that there should be no surprise as to the reverence and spirituality the Japanese people and culture use to honor their connection to the eternal, to excellence, and to light.
At least for me.
Thank you for having made it available.

This book has many great designs that could go well with replacing the shoji paper with stained glass panels. The dimensions given are different than the written instructions, but with careful planning and measurement, this is easily overcome.

I can easily see many of the designs being black-laquered to accentuate the shoji paper, or stained glass panel.