'Aia' Wood + Paper Floor Lamp by Toshiyuki Kita for Sawaya & Moroni, 2002

A rare ‘Aia’ floor lamp designed by Toshiyuki Kita for Sawaya & Moroni in 2002. Standing over four feet tall, the cylindrical form is composed of vertical wood slats framing panels of delicate shoji-like paper, anchored by a metal base. When illuminated, the paper glows with a gentle, diffused radiance, its warmth playing against the subtle grain of the wood. Balancing traditional Japanese materiality with contemporary lines, it feels equally at home in a minimalist living room, gallery-style interior, or serene corner setting.

Born in Osaka in 1942, Toshiyuki Kita is a Japanese product and furniture designer celebrated for translating traditional Japanese materials and sensibilities into modernist form. After studying Industrial Design at Naniwa College in Osaka, he founded his own studio in 1967. In 1969, he began working in Italy—collaborating with renowned firms like Cassina and Bernini—where he designed iconic pieces such as the Wink chair (1980) and Kick table (1983), both now included in the collections of MoMA in New York and other international museums.

Kita’s work spans a wide spectrum—from furniture and lighting to electronics and even robotics. A devoted advocate for traditional crafts, he long championed sustainability and the Japanese philosophy of mottainai—respect for resources and the beauty of reuse. 
A multi-award–winning designer, Kita’s honors include the Japan Interior Design Award (1975), Spain’s Delta de Oro (1990), the prestigious Compasso d’Oro Career Prize (2011), and the Italian title of Commendatore (2017) Since 2004, he has been Professor of Product Design at Osaka University of Arts and continues to promote craftsmanship and education internationally