Object Of The Week: The Pampshade Will Fill Your Room With Warmth
Designed by a Japanese ex-baker, Yukiko Morita, this freshly baked accent light glows with the promise of cozy evenings
Admittedly, the Pampshade has seen its fair share of oohhs and aahhs from various homeware fairs and editorials, since its official conception by Japanese ex-baker, Yukiko Morita in 2016 who has been toying with the idea since 2006. With so many having found the joys of baking and making bread during this time, coupled with the eve of the "'ber" months leading to Christmas, this novelty object makes a fitting feature. It is essentially a lamp fashioned of freshly-baked bread. Its name is derived from a combination between the Japanese word for bread, "pan," and "lamp shade."
How bread became the vessel from which light shines through is answered by a poignant throwback story by its creator who worked in a bakery. She so opposed food waste, witnessing the amounts of bread that were being thrown daily, due to restaurant and sanitation standards. During one of her break periods, she held up a roll of bread against the sunlight, and noticed that it glowed, owing to the light streaming from its crevices. "When I was working at a bakery, I couldn't bear to see the bread being scrapped. Bread is more than just eating, it has more appeal than that.With that in mind, we are making things that allow you to rediscover the charm of bread under the theme of 'I like bread more,'" says Yukiko Morita in a website post.
To make one Pampshade, bread its various incarnations: a baguette, a croissant, a roll, a champignon or even a loaf of toast is freshly baked. Morita then scoops out the bread's interior in order to make it hollow, ready to receive the battery-operated lamp that is inserted into the bread carcass. It is then coated with resin in order to preserve it, making it an object suitable for many uses in interiors.
To avoid food wastage, the pieces that have been excavated from the bread shells are then converted into various confections such as rusks. Sumptuous parmesan-pepper and pistachio-butter are two of the flavors that Pampshade also sells in their store. Aside from rusks, many other confections are made with the bread pieces that were hollowed out from their shells.
Morita aims to "rescue" bread from becoming waste, one roll at a time. To her, the warmth of fresh bread, along with the nuances of its baking, makes this food an old familiar favorite. Its power lies within a few humble ingredients, and yet, it goes a long way in its ability to nourish. Who hasn't smiled at the thought of its aroma coming out of the oven? In Morita's hands, bread takes on a new form as a lamp, hihglighting its association with nurturing warmth, coziness, comfort, and blessings.
"Bread is not only delicious to eat, but also it has rich fragrance, gentle color and cute shape that are all attractive and making me feel happy. When I visit a bakery, breads raise me up and make me smile naturally. On the other hand, the bread dough is very delicate and sensitive, so there is deep practice in order to bake delicious breads, which is never done by amateur work. Also there are various breads all over the world and each bread should have own culture, taste and how to eat. I’m truly fascinated with the world of bread. The more I know the bread, the more doors I should open. Bread begins as a small white lump, the dough is risen by yeast greatly, then they are baked up with good smells. Breads have different names according to its shape even though they are made of same dough. 'Breads seem to be alive…' I think that people have always felt love during making breads and made love for what was made from a long time ago. I would like to realize my creativity for the charm of bread in the way that only I can create... I want many people to experience the inviting charm of bread," reveals Morita, the Pampshade artist.
Giving off a soft glow, the Pampshade will not illuminate the room for task lighting. Instead, consider it as an ambient light or an accent piece, most appropriate for space styling. Here are its various interior applications:
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
The Pampshade
As an accent piece in a cafe corner.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
As an element for food styling
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The Pampshade
Neslted in glass orbs, as pendant lamps.
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The Pampshade
Nestled in glass orbs, as pendant lamps.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
Here, it functions as a nigh light kept under a glass vitrine.
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The Pampshade
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
A few of them as a centerpiece on a refectory table for a gathering.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
A few rolls assembled around an armature makes a chandelier.
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The Pampshade
Use them as part of your Yuletide decor.
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The Pampshade
An intimate meal gets even cozier with a Pampshade baguette light, in lieu of the typical candlelight.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
As a storefront display, it gets people to turn their heads.
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The Pampshade
A conversation piece that makes a quiet corner come alive.
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The Pampshade
A gift that brings warmth and cheer.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
Something to liven up a cafe counter.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
On a night light installed on a wall.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
A soft glow for your reading corner.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
The Pampshade
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The Pampshade
A bed side lamp.
Photo Credit: @pampshade
To purchase your own Pampshade, visit www.pampshade.com.
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