Lantern
Shade
     t is suggested that CFLs or compact flourescent       light bulbs be used.  These work just as well as incandecent candleabra or other bulbs to do the necessary lighting.  The bonus is that they are the safe alternative to incadecent bulbs.  If  incandecent bulbs are used that are physically too large or operate at too high a wattage and heat, the result may be a burned shade or even a fire. At the very least the use of incandecent bulbs will result in accumulative damage, with the shade covering slowly becoming brittle and discolored. 
    If in doubt, the default bulb, the one that can always be used, is the CFL.  Not only are they less expensive to operate, depending on their size, but for this application, they run cool enough to not pose a burn hazard.
CFL Bulb
  This bulb is on a separate switch, allowing one to turn off the main lights and use the small light to produce a soft glow through the lantern portion of the shade. 

  This is the traditional effect that lamps have had for centuries.


In Japan the andon (paper covered lamp stand) is meant to accompany the night and enjoy the night for what it is.  
"It creates the necessary minimum of light required to function in the darkness of the night, but not to alter the ambience the night has to offer."  Timothy Mertel in The Japanese Art of Illumination
       he lamps currently available house a 4 watt night light bulb in the                  lantern portion of the shade.   Inside the lantern is a covering of shade paper that softens the light of the small bulb.
Shade Covering
The Shade
  
  The principle light source of the lamps are the bulbs themselves, with the entire lamp designed so that the bulbs extend outward far enough to illuminate the carving on the base.   That they have to project out so far  puts the bulbs in proximity to the shade paper and therefore necessitates the use of cool CFL bulbs (see below).
Lantern Light
Light Bulbs
        he  wood has been selected for                   dryness as well as for color and attractive grain.   Usually American black cherry has been used.  This is a hardwood that allows for crisp carving and is the preferred wood by pattern makers and machinists because of its stability once properly dried.
     
  The wood, grown mostly in east-central North America, comes from sustainable sources where the trees share forest space with other species like oak and sumack and are harvested to maintain a forest setting that supports and promotes recreation and wildlife habitat.
Wood
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        he covering on the shades is japanese rice paper.                     Although called "rice paper" the paper is actually made of fibers from the inner bark of the kozo or mulberry tree.  The name rice paper came from the use it was put to;  paper folded into packages to contain rice.

Hand made paper is called washi in Japan, (the term "wa" meaning Japanese, and the term "shi" meaning paper) and this particular type of washi is known as unryu for its random mulberry fibers that add texture and interest to the surface.

While washi is much stronger than ordinary wood pulp paper, I have further enhanced its strength by laminating it on top of Warlon, which is a semi-stiff PVC-coated washi. Together they make a very strong  covering.   And with the unryu on the top side the soft look of paper is retained.


         he shade and lantern          are one unit that is refered to as the shade.  It is constructed of 47 to 58 separate pieces of wood, depending on the style.  Although the individual pieces that make up the shade are slender, the unit is surprizingly strong and consists of glued laminates, half lap joints and pegged semi-lapped joints.
  
The shade portion functions in two ways:    it allows light to pass through like an ordinary shade illuminating the shade material and lighting the room;   It also reflects some of the light back down to the base and functions as a secondary light source for the carving.  The "pitch" of the shade "roof" is designed specifically with this purpose in mind.  
Night Light Bulb
        he correct night light bulb to use in the       lantern portion of the lamp is the  standard 4 WATT bulb with a candelabra base.   These low wattage bulbs produce little heat and are therefore safe to use close to the paper lantern shade material.
  Do not use the 7 or more watt bulbs as they will get hot enogh to scorch the paper.
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A Thought On Lamp Selection
       o avoid lamp glare the height of            the shade above the table top is important.  If  you  are  choosing a lamp for a specific location  where you will be sitting either in a social setting or reading, it's necessary to be aware of how high the bottom of the shade should be above the table top.

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-Sit down next to the table and measure the distance from the top of the table to your eye level.  Ideally the lower rim of the shade should be at or below eye level, otherwise you will be looking at the hardware or the glare of the bulbs.
     -The dimensions of each lamp are given on its description page for your reference.  
(  at web site see articles and then lighting  )
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY: Changes in temperature and humidity wreak havoc on furniture.  Modern homes with tight fitting insulation and door and window seals are especially hard on wood because the temperature can change rapidly as the air conditioning or the heater is turned on.  Wood is a living material constantly changing dimension as it takes in or releases moisture. Antiques that have survived the ages before airconditioning have cracked in our modern sealed homes.
Your lamp has been protected with finish.  However the best attempts to prevent moisture gain cannot be 100 percent effective and the wood will still swell and shrink. 

  To prevent the worst exposure to these fluctuations that may produce cracks, never place your lamp in direct sunlight.  Not only will the sun tend to change the color of the wood but it will also heat the side exposed expanding it against the cool opposite side.