Hotaru |
A Decade of Light

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Barber Osgerby's Hotaru collection, with a new hand-painted edition of only 30 pieces worldwide.

“Our friendship with twentytwentyone has always been central to our collaboration which has now spanned over 30 years. Marking 10 years of Hotaru feels like a celebration not just of the lanterns, but of the way we’ve supported one another in London over the decades — and continue to do so.”
— Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Hotaru collection, British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby revisited their — Hotaru Marker — to create a special, limited-edition piece. 

Featuring a vivid sculptural graphic, expertly hand-painted directly onto the pendant's form. A striking intervention that highlights the craftsmanship at the heart of the collection. 

“The new limited edition hand-painted Hotaru Marker lantern is the third in our series of hand-painted editions. Each lantern is painted in Japan with a vibrant red watercolour pigment. Whilst the form remains familiar, every piece is unique.  
— Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby

Handmade in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture, the Hotaru range continues to honour traditional lantern-making techniques. Each piece is crafted in translucent Mulberry bark washi paper, delicately stretched over a sculptural bamboo structure. While contemporary production often relies on screen or stencil printing, this edition revives the historic practice of hand-decoration, imbuing each lantern with unique character.  

Limited worldwide to just 30 pendants, available exclusively from twentytwentyone. 

Origins 

The collaboration that led to the Hotaru range began in 2015, debuting at the London Design Festival with two original forms: Buoy and Double Bubble. These sculptural pendants juxtaposed generous scale with lightweight construction, setting the tone for the collection's refined, ethereal aesthetic. 

The name Hotaru, meaning ‘firefly’ in Japanese, reflects the collection’s glowing presence and its fusion of contemporary design with heritage craft. All Hotaru lanterns are produced by Ozeki & Co Ltd, a renowned Japanese maker of paper lanterns since 1891. Ozeki’s legacy includes collaborations with leading Japanese designers and the production of Isamu Noguchi’s celebrated Akari light sculptures. 

Over the past decade, the Hotaru family has expanded to include pendant, floor, table, and mini versions, each defined by a quiet, enduring simplicity. 

Editions 

In 2018, the first hand-painted edition of Marker launched during London Design Festival, featuring a refined, organic intervention in deep blue. A colour evocative of Japanese ceramics.  

In 2021, to celebrate twentytwentyone’s 25th anniversary, a second hand-painted edition was released: the Double Bubble, featuring a bold vertical in orange ochre.

Now, in 2025, edition 3 hand-painted Marker joins this lineage of collectable and coveted designs, celebrating a decade-long story of light, form, and craftsmanship. 

Available to buy here.

FRAME by Barber Osgerby

Working in wood has always been a deeply rewarding process and the tactility and softness of the material is what appeals most. The frames embody these qualities through the soft lines and exacting geometry. Crafted from oak and a limited edition in iroko, they are produced in a range of sizes with the same level of material integrity we bring to all our designs. ”
— Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby