Light and shade

How do I clean the delicate paper objects?

The surface of the papers is coated several times with a protective, transparent varnish after completion so that they are less sensitive to external influences.

• The care is very simple: In general, I recommend using a feather duster, a rag or a soft brush for normal care. For a more thorough cleaning, you can use a slightly damp cloth or a well-wrung sponge.

• Afterwards, please allow the lamp to dry well to avoid the formation of mould stains.
  If necessary, you can also use a hair dryer on a cool setting to gently remove any dust that may have adhered.
  Drying under heat, however, is not recommended and would lead to warping. Natural drying is sufficient to maintain the quality of the lamp.

• Watch out for sharp objects, edges or furniture corners, these can permanently damage the paper surface.

With a little loving care and mindfulness, you can preserve the beauty and longevity of your paper lamps.

Can the paper lanterns be placed outdoors?

The paper lanterns are water resistant to a certain degree, but not waterproof.

• I recommend placing the lamps indoors in rainy or extreme weather conditions to ensure their longevity.

• The papers can also dry out too much, crack or fade under sunlight.
  

Please place the lamps in a suitable place so that their delicate appearance will remain with you for a long time.

Are the lamps suitable for the bathroom?

Yes, my lampshades are suitable for use in the bathroom. They have been carefully manufactured and are designed to withstand the specific requirements and environmental conditions of a bathroom. So you can install the lamps in the bathroom without hesitation.

Can I choose other colours?

Yes, you can! I will soon be listing the colour and paper options I use here. You can then select your desired colour preferences and make a customisation. I look forward to creating a unique and personal product for you!

The types of paper I use

Short paper overview

Himalayan paper

Himalayan papers, also known as Lokta paper, Daphne paper or Nepal paper, are handmade in Nepal from Lokta fibres. These papers are characterised by their robustness, suppleness and ease of processing. The production is done according to an ancient method from the fibrous bark of the daphne bush, also called lokta tree. The bushes are carefully pruned and the bark peeled off, which promotes growth and allows the tree to regenerate completely in a few years. In this way, the tree is not felled but preserved, making paper production environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The long, soft fibres give the paper its natural rough look and pleasant feel. Lokta papers are extremely durable, resistant to ageing and extremely tear-resistant. They are characterised by high quality and are excellently suited for further processing.

Overall, lokta papers are a special and sustainable type of paper from Nepal, characterised by their unique production and outstanding properties. They are often refined with inclusions of leaves, flowers or other materials.

Banana paper

Banana paper is made by hand, mainly in developing countries, often in small handicraft workshops next to banana plantations. It is made from banana plant bark or banana peel fibres.

The production of banana paper is environmentally friendly because harvested banana stems and trunks, which are normally discarded, are used as available sources of fibre. No trees are felled and the harvested product is fully recycled to make banana paper.

This helps to reduce synthetic fibre production and pollution. Banana paper requires no chemicals during production and is more durable than conventional paper.

The paper has an original beige colour and is interspersed with long fibre residues. It has a rough and a velvety soft side, is water repellent and flame retardant.

Banana paper is naturally very resistant, durable and has an interesting structure with fine fibres that give it a unique look.

Thanks to its stability and light transmission, it is particularly suitable for lampshades.

Kozo paper

Kozo paper, also known as mulberry paper, is made from the white fibres of various mulberry tree species. The peeled bark of the mulberry tree is peeled one more time to obtain only the white fibres. These are boiled, washed and threshed into fibres. By mixing in various natural materials such as bark fibres, leaf particles, petals, banana leaf fibres or rice plant fibres, coarse and beautiful paper structures are created. Kozo paper is extremely resistant and robust, which makes it a hard-wearing paper with special stability and durability. It is also known for its high resistance to ageing.

Kozo paper is slightly transparent and has a characteristic natural grey appearance due to visible long fibres, which give the paper a noble and aesthetic charm.

The mulberry tree grows in Thailand, Nepal, China and Japan, among other places.

Straw silk paper

Straw silk is also made from the bark of the mulberry tree, but mostly by machine or semi-machine.

The long fibres of the mulberry bark remain visible and give the paper its typical supple and soft appearance. In some straw silks, other natural materials such as pieces of straw, grasses, algae or leaves are also added to create a special texture. Straw silk is very suitable for finishing because it is supple and easy to fold around edges and corners. The long fibres make transitions almost invisible.

It comes in many different colours and is slightly transparent, which of course makes it ideal for creative designs, such as lampshades.

Tobacco paper

Tobacco paper is usually made from plant fibres, such as pulp from wood or from plants like bamboo or hemp. Tobacco leaves or parts of tobacco leaves are incorporated into the paper pulp, giving the paper an interesting and unique look reminiscent of the shell of quail eggs.

The natural appearance and texture contribute to an attractive and individual design when used in lampshades.

It is more transparent and often thinner than many other natural papers, so it can be more delicate and prone to cracking or damage.

Walnut paper

As the name suggests, this paper is made using the leaves, bark and fibres of the walnut tree.

Walnut paper is also a very beautiful translucent paper that has excellent properties for making light objects. However, it seems to be out of stock at the moment.

Walnut paper has always been a special and less common type of paper, usually made in small quantities and by hand. It is possible that the trade in walnut paper is subject to current fluctuations due to its unique properties and manufacturing method, as well as the availability of raw materials, the demand for this special paper and the individual production capacities of paper manufacturers.

Note

With all papers, it happens that colour, texture, size, surface and weights nuance from sheet to sheet.

The amount of inclusions such as flowers or grasses can also vary. And it is this extraordinary manufacturing process that makes the natural papers so special and makes each lamp and candle holder unique.