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Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. Humble, everyday fruits, they have inspired a range of bold and creative lighting pieces that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Each lamp brings a fresh, whimsical twist to interior design, blending humor, craftsmanship, and modern technology to turn a simple fruit into an artful source of illumination.

In the world of contemporary lighting design, few creations are as playful and unexpected as the Banana Lamp by Belgian design duo Studio Job. Founded by Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel, Studio Job is known for its bold, often whimsical approach to design, blending the fine art of sculpture with functional design objects. One of their most celebrated pieces, the Banana Lamp, is a limited-edition collection that captures the essence of this duality — a quirky yet elegant tribute to the iconic yellow fruit.

The collection features five standing lamps, each held upright in different dynamic positions, with the banana skin acting as both the support and the structural element of the design. There is also a wall-mounted version, which introduces an additional layer of versatility, and an oversized version that draws even more attention to the playful nature of the lamp.

Each Banana Lamp is meticulously crafted using high-end materials, combining polished bronze for the banana skin and mouth-blown etched glass for the fruit itself. The bronze, with its lustrous sheen, creates a stunning contrast to the soft, glowing light emitted from the glass “fruit” inside, which is filled with energy-efficient LED lights. The use of bronze not only adds an element of luxury but also elevates the lamp into an art piece, making it as much about sculptural form as it is about illumination.

The decision to use LED lighting further underscores Studio Job’s commitment to both sustainability and innovation. The result is a visually striking lamp that balances the whimsical with the practical, while offering an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional incandescent lighting.

As with many of Studio Job’s works, the Banana Lamp offers a humorous and playful take on everyday objects, transforming a simple fruit into a sophisticated work of design art. With its limited-edition status, the Banana Lamp transcends mere decoration, becoming an object of conversation, a sculpture that brings joy and light into any space. It reflects Studio Job’s broader ethos: that design should be both functional and full of character, creating art pieces that enrich our daily lives with beauty and a touch of humor.

Where Studio Job’s Banana Lamp reimagines the yellow fruit as a bold, contemporary object of art, Alexis Dornier’s Banana Paper Lamps represent a more introspective, delicate approach to lighting design. While Studio Job takes a more playful, exaggerated approach, Dornier’s work is a meditation on simplicity, comfort, and the beauty of handcrafted materials. With a deep respect for craftsmanship and materiality, Dornier has crafted a collection of luminous sculptures that fuse traditional techniques with modern design, drawing on the natural world in a way that feels both intimate and spiritual.

Dornier’s Banana Paper Lamps form part of a larger project called Tamashi Jiwa – the Souls of Space, a series of lighting sculptures that blend function, comfort, and artistry. The project was born from Dornier’s visit to a small factory in Japan, where he was captivated by the delicate, handcrafted process of making paper from banana fibers. Inspired by the quality of the material and the intimate production process, Dornier sought to use banana paper to create something uniquely beautiful—luminous sculptures that serve not only as light sources but also as expressions of warmth and tenderness.

Produced in Bali, each Banana Paper Lamp is carefully handmade from fibers derived from banana trees. This sustainable material, often used in traditional Asian craft, lends a unique texture and translucency to the lamps. The result is a collection of lighting fixtures that feel both organic and ethereal, transforming the humble banana tree fiber into an art form.

In Tamashi Jiwa, Dornier merges the everyday with the sublime. Drawing inspiration from common, everyday items like down jackets, blankets, and pillows, he distills their essence into abstract, sculptural forms that radiate light and warmth. The materials—banana paper mixed with translucent polyurethane wool made from recycled plastic—are sewn and knitted together, with each piece reflecting the comforting tactile qualities of the objects that inspired them.

The seams that bind the materials add rhythm and texture to the designs, turning each lamp into a unique work of art. These threads, reminiscent of the raw fibers of banana paper, symbolically “hold” the sculptures together, reflecting Dornier’s deep respect for the craft of joinery. The minimalistic, black frames that support the paper sculptures are intentionally dematerialized and reductive, highlighting the lightness and ethereal beauty of the glowing forms.

While a glowing bunch of bananas might evoke thoughts of quirky art pieces or ironic commentary on modern life, Gazzaladra’s Banana Lamp takes a more refined and clever approach. Crafted using precise 3D scans of real bananas, this lamp reimagines nature’s whimsy, transforming an everyday fruit into an arresting piece of functional art.

Each lamp in the collection captures the organic details of a banana bunch with startling authenticity. From the subtle ridges on the peel to the delicate curve of each fruit, Gazzaladra’s design isn’t just a cartoonish mimicry of nature—it’s a finely crafted object that merges high-resolution 3D modeling with a playful sense of humor. The result is a lamp that feels both lifelike and distinctly modern, turning a simple fruit into something unexpected and engaging. Whether perched on a desk or suspended from the ceiling, the Banana Lamp doesn’t just provide light—it creates an experience.

Available as a 3D model on the Thangs.com marketplace, the Banana Lamp is designed for experimentation. The hollow bananas feature a 1.6mm wall thickness, making them perfect for translucent filaments that produce a soft, glowing effect. For those looking for more drama, the lamp’s design invites customization—play around with painting techniques to replicate the green of an unripe banana or the golden hue of a perfectly ripe one. The lamp becomes more than just a finished product; it offers a unique, hands-on design experience for users, allowing them to personalize it to suit their style.

Given the materials used, the Banana Lamp is designed exclusively for use with LED bulbs. Since plastics like PLA or ABS can melt under high heat, Gazzaladra advises users to avoid incandescent bulbs, which could cause damage over time. For best results, the designer suggests experimenting with a sample 3D print before installing the final lamp. Additionally, using filaments like PET-G or Nylon is recommended for their durability, as these materials are more heat-resistant than standard PLA.

The Banana Lamp comes in four distinct versions, each designed to suit different needs and aesthetic preferences. Whether you’re looking for a pendant light to brighten your kitchen or a desk lamp to add some flair to your workspace, there’s a banana—or a bunch—for you. The lamp is compatible with common socket kits, such as the Ikea Strala, making it easy to integrate into your home. A thoughtful design feature also allows for single or multicolor printing, so you can either keep it minimalistic or unleash your creativity with custom-painted versions that reflect different stages of ripeness.

Whether it’s lighting up a dinner party with its cheeky character or simply sitting as a fun conversation starter in your living room, the Banana Lamp encourages us to look at the world with a little more humor and imagination.