The Rinkaku is a wooden floor lamp built around two materials: hand-turned solid walnut and a pleated fabric shade. At 155cm tall, it sits at the height where a floor lamp is most effective in a living room, casting warm, diffused light at seated eye level rather than flooding the room from above or glaring upward from too low.
It belongs to a category of lamp that earns its place in a room twice: once as a piece of furniture when it is switched off, and again as a light source when it is on. The walnut base has enough sculptural presence to hold a corner on its own during the day. The pleated shade transforms it in the evening, glowing with an even, warm light that changes the feel of whatever space it occupies.
At £650, the Rinkaku sits at the point where a floor lamp stops being a functional purchase and becomes a design decision. This post covers what that decision involves: the design, the materials, where it works, and how it compares to the other wooden floor lamps in the Fjord & Fuji lighting collection.
The Design
The base is a teardrop form in solid walnut, hand-turned on a lathe. It widens at the foot for stability and narrows into a slender stem that meets the shade. The shape is organic without being literal. It does not reference anything specific. It simply feels right in the hand and in the room, which is harder to achieve than it sounds.
Hand turning means every base carries subtle variations in grain pattern and colour. Walnut ranges from pale tan to deep chocolate brown depending on where in the tree the timber was taken, and the natural finish on the Rinkaku lets these variations show rather than hiding them under a uniform stain. Two Rinkaku lamps side by side will share the same form but differ in the details, which is one of the quiet advantages of a piece made from solid timber rather than veneer or composite.
The pleated fabric shade is stitched by hand, each panel sitting in a gentle scalloped formation that catches light at slightly different angles. When lit, the shade glows evenly. There are no hot spots, no bright seams, no visible bulb silhouette. The light passes through the fabric rather than bouncing off it, producing the kind of warm, ambient illumination that makes a room feel inhabited rather than merely switched on.
At 155cm, the Rinkaku is taller than a standard table lamp but not as tall as some architectural floor lamps. This height is deliberate. It places the centre of the shade at approximately 130cm, which is seated eye level for most sofa and armchair positions. Light at this height is comfortable and flattering. Light from above (ceiling fixtures) or below (low table lamps) serves different purposes, but the mid-height glow of a well-placed floor lamp is what gives a living room its atmosphere.
The Material: Why Walnut
Walnut is one of the few hardwoods that is simultaneously warm in tone, strong enough for furniture-scale turning, and beautiful enough to leave with a natural finish. It does not need to be painted, lacquered, or heavily treated to look good. A light oil or wax finish protects the surface while letting the grain and colour do the work.
The warmth of walnut is particularly important in a floor lamp because the base sits at floor level, where it interacts with rugs, flooring, and the lower portions of furniture. A warm-toned base connects naturally with wooden floors, woven textiles, and neutral upholstery. A metal or glass base at the same position can feel disconnected from the room around it, especially in interiors that lean towards natural materials.
Over time, walnut develops a patina. The colour deepens slightly, the surface smooths with handling, and the wood takes on a character that new pieces do not have. A walnut lamp that has been in a room for five years looks better than it did on day one, which is the opposite of most lighting purchases.
Where the Rinkaku Works
Living Room
The most natural position for the Rinkaku is beside a sofa or armchair, slightly behind the arm and to one side. This creates a pool of warm light over the seating area that is ideal for reading, conversation, or simply settling in for the evening. The walnut base sits at furniture level, visually connecting it to the sofa and any side tables nearby.
Paired with a Wabi Linen Sofa and a stainless steel side table, the Rinkaku completes a corner arrangement: seating, surface, and light. The contrast between the warm walnut and the cool steel of the side table is exactly the kind of material dialogue that makes a room feel composed rather than matched.
For a complete lighting layer, add a Rinkaku Table Lamp on the opposite side of the room. The two pieces share the same walnut and pleated shade language, creating visual continuity across the space without the formality of identical lamps flanking a sofa.
Bedroom
In a bedroom, the Rinkaku works as an alternative to a bedside table lamp, positioned in a corner or beside a reading chair rather than on the nightstand. The diffused light is gentler than a direct reading lamp, which makes it better for winding down in the evening. If you read in bed, a Nami Table Lamp on the bedside table provides focused light while the Rinkaku handles the room's ambient glow.
Reading Corner
A Sofuto Accent Chair, the Rinkaku, and a small side table is a complete reading corner in three pieces. The low, deep seat of the Sofuto, the warm overhead light from the Rinkaku, and a surface for a cup of tea or a book. The walnut of the lamp base and the beige of the chair share enough tonal warmth to feel connected, while the different materials (wood and faux suede) prevent the arrangement from looking monotonous.
How the Rinkaku Compares
Fjord & Fuji carries several wooden floor lamps, each with a different character. Choosing between them depends on what your room needs.
The Nami Wooden Floor Lamp (£650) has a turned wood base with a more traditional silhouette and a fabric drum shade. It produces a similar quality of light to the Rinkaku but with a rounder, softer form. If the Rinkaku is sculptural, the Nami is organic. Choose the Nami for rooms where curves dominate: rounded sofas, circular rugs, arched doorways.
The Rinto Wooden Floor Lamp (£700) is taller and more architectural, with a straighter stem and a wider shade. It casts light over a broader area, which makes it better suited to larger rooms or open-plan spaces where the lamp needs to reach further. The Rinto is the workhorse. The Rinkaku is the centrepiece.
The Kairo Wooden Floor Lamp (£750) is the most sculptural of the range, with a carved wooden base that makes the strongest visual statement. If the lamp itself is the focal point of the room, the Kairo is the choice. If you want the light to be the focal point and the lamp to support it, the Rinkaku strikes a better balance.
Care and Maintenance
Dust the walnut base with a dry, soft cloth. For deeper cleaning, use a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately. Do not use furniture polish or chemical cleaners, as these can strip the natural finish and leave a residue that dulls the grain over time.
The pleated fabric shade should be dusted gently with a soft brush or a lint roller. Do not use water on the shade. If a pleat becomes creased or flattened, a very light pass with a steamer (held at a distance, not pressed against the fabric) can restore the shape.
Keep the lamp away from direct sunlight for extended periods. UV exposure will lighten walnut unevenly over time, and prolonged heat can dry the timber. The natural ageing of walnut (a gradual deepening of colour in normal indoor conditions) is desirable. Sun bleaching is not.
Made to Order
The Rinkaku is made to order with a lead time of 1 to 3 weeks. Each base is turned individually from solid walnut, and each shade is pleated and stitched by hand. This means the lamp you receive has been produced for your order, not pulled from warehouse stock.
The practical implication is a short wait. The quality implication is that every piece receives individual attention during production rather than passing through a volume manufacturing line. For a lamp that will likely remain in your home for a decade or more, the wait is proportionate.
Available in UK, EU, and US plug options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is the Rinkaku Floor Lamp?
155cm from base to the top of the shade. This places the light source at approximately 130cm, which is seated eye level for most sofa and armchair arrangements. It is designed for living rooms and bedrooms rather than smaller spaces like hallways or bathrooms.
What bulb does the Rinkaku use?
The Rinkaku uses a standard E27 screw fitting. For the best quality of light through the pleated shade, use a warm white LED bulb (2700K) with a high CRI of 90 or above. This produces the warm, even glow the shade is designed to diffuse. Avoid daylight or cool white bulbs, which will change the character of the light significantly.
Is the Rinkaku suitable for a small room?
At 155cm tall, the Rinkaku has a noticeable presence. In a very small room (under 10 square metres), it may feel oversized. For compact spaces, the Rinkaku Table Lamp offers the same walnut and pleated shade combination at a scale that suits side tables, desks, and smaller rooms.
How long does delivery take?
The Rinkaku is made to order with a typical lead time of 1 to 3 weeks. Each piece is produced individually, with the walnut base hand-turned and the shade hand-stitched. Delivery timeframes may vary; check the product page for current estimates.
Does walnut change colour over time?
Yes. Walnut naturally deepens in colour with age, developing a richer, darker tone and a smoother patina through handling. This is considered a desirable quality of the timber. The change is gradual and even under normal indoor lighting conditions. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which can cause uneven lightening.
Shop the Rinkaku
The Rinkaku Wooden Floor Lamp is available now at fjordandfuji.com. £650, made to order in 1 to 3 weeks. UK, EU, and US plug options.
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