In honor of Origami Day, these featured design ideas are a tribute to the re-invention of a classic paper folding art concept. The practice of folding paper has been used to influence everything from furniture designs and architecture to technology and fashion.
Origami has been a heavy influence within the furniture world, which has allowed designers to craft unique pieces of household accessories that are compact and able to be folded -- not built by consumers. Following this theme, origami has proven to be a useful kitchenware tactic as well. For example, designer Ben Strange created a Tupperware-like container called 'FoldFlat' that pops up using folding concept.
On Origami Day it is important to reflect on the ancient paper-folding that has been used across almost every design industry. From cardboard origami cars to playground canopies shaped like folded paper, this art combines aesthetic an convenience.
88 Origami Design Ideas
See How the Ancient Practice Influences Design In Honor of Origami Day:
Ady Floyd — Nov 11, 2015 — Art & Design
87
Origami-Inspired Cabinets
This Origami Furniture Features Exposed Shelving and Geometric Patterns
86
Paper-Made Wildlife Sculptures
These Angular Origami Animals Simplify the Look of Wild Creatures
85
Geometric Multi-Tasking Tables
This 3-in-1 Small Pet Bed is Held Together Using One Elastic Band
84
Re-Imagined Umbrella Designs
The Sa™ is Seeking Finances Via Crowdfunding Platform Kickstarter
83
Foldable Origami Containers
These Foldable Food Containers Shrink Down to a Slim Package
82
Interlocking Paper Lamps
These Bamboo Paper Origami Lamps are Built Without Any Screws or Glue
81
Balancing Bird Lamps
Umut Yamac Designs a Sculptural Light Inspired by Origami
80
Origami-Inspired Book Sculptures
These Scultures are Embedded Within the Pages of Iconic Novels
79
Origami-Inspired Kayaks
Oru's Bay+ Kayak is an Upgraded Version of the Original Oru Kayak
78
Origami Playground Canopies
This Brightly Colored Thin Metal Canopy Protects a Playground in Spain
77
Biodegradable Origami Bowls
This Food Bowl Design Imagines a Sustainable Way to Eat Ramen
76
Fashionably Folded Accessories
These Linda Sieto Leather Bags Boast a Layered and Elegant Design
75
Wet Origami Art
Hoang Tien Quyet Uses a Unique Paper Folding Technique for Added Details
74
Folded Door Furnishings
This Reclaimed Door Table was Taken from Its Hinges and Reworked
73
Parametric Alcohol Packaging
These Origami Champagne Cartons Creatively Redress the Drink
72
Floral Origami Lighting
West Elm's Flower Pendant Lamp is Sculpturally Shaped
71
Origami Bodycon Fashion
The Mikhael Kale Spring Collection is Full of Sculptural Silhouettes
70
Pop-Up Relief Shelters
This Pop-Up Shelter Provides Temporary Living Space for Four
69
Geometric Origami Masks (UPDATE)
Steve Wintercroft's 3D Model Masks are Perfect for Halloween Day
68
Intricate Origami Fashion
This Junya Watanabe Collection is Full of Intricate Pleats
67
Color Block Fashion
Britt Bergmeister by Kristina Varaksina Interacts with Origami Objects
66
Bendable Origami Benches
BlackLAB Designs a Flexible Furniture Piece Out of Geometric Panels
65
DIY Origami Cookies
The 'Fete Gazette' Blog Has Created Adorable Paper Cranes Out of Wafer Cookies
64
Architectural Origami Fashion
Bolor Amgalan's Latest Lookbook Boasts Sculptural Elements
63
Origami-Inspired Chairs
One Designer Creates a Chair Inspired by the Geodesic Dome
62
Affectionate DIY Boxes
Anna Trympali's Romantic Gift Box Helps to Create a Heartfelt Greeting
61
Delicate Origami Illuminators
A Rice Paper Lighting Series Employs an Unusual Ornamental Material
60
Shape-Shifting Origami Planters
GROWTH by Studio Ayaskan Changes as Plants Get Bigger
59
Kaleidoscopic Origami Domes
'Light Origami' by Masakazu Shirane & Saya Miyazaki is Illuminating
58
Flexible Folding Kayaks
The Oru Coast 'Origami Kayak' Goes From Box to Boat in Just Ten Minutes
57
Geometric Pear Packaging
Katarzyna Soltysiak's Fruit Cage Containers Are Designed for Fresh Fruit
56
Luxe Origami Accessories
Malene Glintborg Creates Minimalist Jewelry Pieces With a Modern Edge
55
Origami-Engineered Structures
The Zippered Tube Design Doubles the Magnitude of Strength of Paper
54
Expandable Pleated Backpacks
Steven Enns' Leather Backpack Design Expands and Contracts Naturally
53
Geometric Office Accessories
These Designer Desk Supplies Boast an Origami-Inspired Look
52
Massive Origami Taxidermy
These Papercraft Creations From Holger are Humane, Creative and Vibrant
51
DIY Robot Toys
These 'Kamigami' Robots Feature DIY Construction and are Remote Controlled
50
Sustainable Cork Wallets
The 'Origami One' is a Slim Billfold Wallet Made from Eco-Friendly Fabric
49
Origami-Inspired Candle Holders
Mizko Design's Karat Candlesticks Boast a Geometric Design
48
Origami Easter Packaging
Minieco's Printable Paper Project is Great for the Holidays
47
Mini Origami Robots
These Self-Folding Robots are Multi-Talented Machines
46
Organizational Office Lanterns
The Illumigami is an Office Lighting System That Values Efficiency
45
Geometric Pendant Lamps
LampsLite's Newest Lighting Collection is Origami-Themed
44
Origami Pet Bowls
This Pet Food Packaging Design Unfolds into a Handy Bowl
43
Elegant Origami Animal Art
Origami Artist Ross Symons Creates Beautiful Folded Paper Creations
42
Refined Paper Art
Cybèle Young's Artwork Combines Japanese Origami & Contemporary Sculpting
41
Origami Light Installations
Masakazu Shirane’s 3D Kaleidoscope Sculpture is Immersive
40
Chic Origami Carryalls
This Ribbed Leather Bag is Handmade by Etsy's CrowSLC Shop
39
Sophisticated Balloon Animals
Adults will Appreciate Masayoshi Matsumoton's Intricate Designs
38
Handmade Gemstone RIngs
These Modular Jewelry Pieces are Made by Hand Using 3D Printing
37
Eco Origami Lighting
The Airy Lamp by Studio 24° is Paper-Made and Inspired by Clouds
36
Spooky Origami Bats
This DIY Tutorial Instructs Novices How to Fold a Bat from Paper
35
Flying Paper Cranes
This Paper Crane Can Actually Take To the Air
34
Triangular Chocolate Packaging
Charm Chocolate is Bite-Sized and Perfect for On-the-Go Enjoyment
33
Pliable Camping Cuisine Aids
Outdoor Chopping Board Facilitates Multitasking Meal Prep in the Wild
32
Folding Measuring Spoons
This Creative Measuring Spoon Shape Stems from Origami
31
Collapsible Perfume Cartons
This Perfume Packaging Design Flattens When Fragrance is Sprayed
30
Neo-Luxe Origami Bags
The FINELL Handbag Collection is Full of Geometric Lines
29
Handy Origami Umbrellas
The Sa Features a Functional New Design Made with Recyclable Materials
28
Gigantic Origami Boats
Big Bang Fair Teamed Up with Kids to Build a Huge Floating Paper Boat
27
Sugary Stained Glass Art
These Graphic Watercolors Are Created With Paint and Sugar
26
Geometric Meerkat Sculptures
These Paper Animal Art is Inspired by Traditional Origami
25
Folded Roof Residences
The ORIGAMI House by TSC Architects is Modern and Sculptural
24
Extendable Plant Holders
This Expandable Plant Pot Eliminates Replanting and is Origami-Inspired
23
Color-Shifting Skirts
The Chamelyo is a Color-Changing Skirt that Transforms When It’s Spun Around
22
Kirigami-Like Solar Panels
These Flexible Solar Cells Don't Need Any Motors to Rotate with the Sun
21
Edible Origami Cranes
This Folded Crane is Made From Celeriac Sheets Instead of Paper Pieces
20
Angular Minimalist Lighting
The Plie Lamp by Vitale is Made out of a Single Sheet of Bent Metal
19
Creatively Folded Cartography
Origami Map Were Made to Prompt Business's Google Maps Registration
18
Geometric Origami Carryalls
Finell's Rae Shoulder Bag is a Sculptural Purse that Makes a Statement
17
Customizable Origami Lamps
This Origami Lamp Lets Users Create Completely Custom Lighting
16
Luxe Origami Accessories
The Lamellic Collection Boasts Geometrically Folded Pieces
15
Geometric Animal Lighting
These LED Lamp Sculptures from Etsy Bring the Outdoors Into One's Home
14
Origami-Inspired Drones
This Origami Drone Spreads Its Wings In Less Than a Second
13
Leather Origami Bags
These Durable Handbags are Made Without Stitching and Use the Art of Origami
12
Childlike Dishware Collections
Chi Chi's Colorful Tableware is Sold in a Functional Set
11
Origami Smartphone Speakers
'The Tone' is a Thin Speaker for Smartphones That Folds
10
Canine Origami Campaigns
Beagle Street's Release the Pounds Treats Londoners to Folded £10 Notes
9
Origami Butterfly Duvet Covers
Snurk Designs a Whimsical and Crafty Blanket for Dreamers
8
Origami Military Shelters
This Military Shelter Uses Ancient Origami to Save Energy and Space
7
Cardboard Origami Cars
This Lexus IS300H Sedan is Crafted from 1700 Pieces of Cardboard
6
Origami-Inspired Batteries
This Folded Paper Battery is Powered By Bacteria
5
Angular Aluminum Lighting
This Geometric Light Fixture Boasts a Sculptural Shape
4
Holographic Modular Jewelry
Designer Geo Verau's Origami Accessories are Cute and Femininine
3
Intergalactic Paper Sculptures
Marc Hagan-Guirey Recreates Scenes from Star Wars Using Only Paper
2
Interactive Origami Installations
Kamiko by MixMotion is a Modern Piece of Art
1
Tripod Toothbrush Containers
The Storigami Props Up and Protects Your Brush While Your Travel
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Multi-Material Home Composters
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AI-Generated Paper Architecture Series
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Empowering Walking Sticks
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Origami-Inspired Mouse Designs
The myAir.0 OriMouse Collapses When Not in Use
Sustainable Lightweight Cat Toys
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Origami Travel Solar Panels
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Reclaimed Plastic Pocket Knives
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Design-Forward Furniture Collections
Zanat Unveils Its 2024 Design Collection and It is Stunninng
Digital Detox Phone Concepts
Andrea Mangone Boasts a Minimalist Foldable Phone
Self-Operating Sand Artwork Tables
The Origin Coffee Table Pays Homage to Japanese art and Design
Triple Foldable Smartphones
Huawei's Mate XT Ultimate Design Folds Into itself Three Times
Compressed Toilet Paper Boxes
Bambox Changes the Way Tissues are Dispensed by Removing the Roll
Origami-Inspired Sleek Cabins
A.L.P.S. Designs the Infinity Mobile Architecture System
Minimal Stackable Chair Concepts
Deniz Aktay Designs the Omega Chair Concept with a Single Sheet
Ergonomic Instant Noodle Forks
Nendo x Nissin The Fork Supports Easy Eating of Instant Noodles
Paper-Based Tray Packaging
Verday Vegan Meats are Packed in Shallow Food Trays Made for Recycling
Accordion-Style Coffee Cups
The Accordion Paper Cup Concept is Easy to Carry
Upcycled Plastic Bag-Made Chairs
Sungai Watch Creates the Ombak Chair from Plastic Bags
TV Packaging Seating Solutions
The 'Cuna' Furniture by Valeria Coello is Made Out of Cardboard
Envelope-Packaged Couch Designs
The 'Couch in an Envelope' is Modular and 100% Recyclable
Nostalgic Flip Phone Concepts
The Nokia N90 by Viet Doan Duc Reimagines a Vintage Design
Habit-Building Wearable Devices
The Conceptual 'DAY ONE' Tracker Can Be Attached onto Anything
High-Tech Eco-Conscious Furniture
The WoodenWood Project Upcycles and Utilizes Robotic Printing
Sleek Multipurpose Crib Furniture
Zhipeng Qiu and Yufeng Lin Present a Unique Chair-Crib Design
Blooming Paper Lamps
The Kazuhiro Yamanaka ‘Tsubomi Paper Lamp’ Embraces Imperfect Forms
Origami-Inspired Adventure Packs
The Huckberry x Peak Design X-Pac Collection Has Six Pieces
Ocean Waste-Made Office Chairs
Okamura Designs the Sphere Office Chair from Fishing Nets
Sophisticated Upcycled Home Sculptures
Origin Made Boasts the Exquisite Barco Basket Sculptures
Japanese-Inspired Cabinet Designs
Origin Made Presents the Veil Cabinets by Silje Nesda
Minimal Geometric Chair Concepts
Sonakshi Gupta Designs the Euclid Chair Concept
Collapsible Folding Carrier Cups
The DiFOLD Origami Cup Works for Hot and Cold Beverages
Modular Flat-Pack Side Tables
SUNRIU Design's Tai Side Table is Sustainability-Conscious
New York-Inspired Picnic Series
Nik Bentel's New York Picnic Series is Whimsical & Eye-Catching
Nature-Inspired Pet Toys
A Team of Designers Create the Unique Triangle Toy for Pets
Intertwined Marble-Made Calendars
The 'Noova' Calendar Has an Intricate Yet Functional Design
Tri-Folding Smartphone Concepts
The TECNO Phantom Ultimate 2 Imagines the Foldable Phone Future
Minimalist Book Storage Tables
The 'Pocket' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Split Open
Flexible Folding Concept Phone
Samsung's Flex in & Out Flip is a Bending Phone Concept
Ancient Geometric Pattern Purses
The Infinite Convertible Bag by Maryam Hosseini is Shapeshifting
Japanese Inn-Inspired Apartments
Intheory Design Creates an Apartment Inspired by Ryokan
Paper-Formed Premium Furniture
Emeline Ong Designs the Pastel Tonal Pastille Collection
Stunning Origami Portraits
João Charrua's Creations are Intricate and Eye-Catching
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Multifunctional Magnetic Folding Tables
The 'FoldPlay' Folding Table Works Anywhere in the House
Republic-Honoring Chess Sets
This Chess Set Concept Commemorates Nakhchivan
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Modern Chair Designs
TAKT and Industrial Facility Introduce the Bow Chair
Oozing Cake-Like Furniture Designs
The 'Roll Furniture' Makes Use of Discarded Materials
Paper-Inspired Artful Museums
Bjarke Ingels Group Designed the Museum for Papirkunst
3D-Printed Terracotta Coolers
Simon Pavy and Entreautre Designs a New Low-Tech Cooler
Co-Presented Three-Day Design Exhibitions
Ariake's Nagare Exhibition is Showcased at 3daysofdesign
Realistic Messy Romantic Gifts
The Messy Paper Anniversary Gift Boxes Embraces Imperfections
Naturalistic Grass-Inspired Chairs
The Flip Chair by Kuan-Cheng Chen Mimics Movement
Geometric Design Toys
The Little Toy by Eames Office Has Been Revived After Six Decades
Vibrant Artist Pop-Up Books
Poposition Press Brings Life to the Keith Haring Pop-Up Book
Origami-Inspired Steel Art Sculptures
Jyhling Lee Created the Stainless Steel Reflector Sculpture
Single-Piece Wooden Chair Concepts
Deniz Atkay Designs the Slide Table Concept with a Single Sheet
Kimino Making-Inspired Furniture
Nao Tamura Designs the Origata Collection for Porro
Lunar New Year-Inspired Noteboooks
Moleskine Adds New Designs to the 3 Artists, 3 Countries Series
Reusable Paper Lunch Bags
Out of the Woods Reinterprets a Nostalgic Lunch Classic
Eco-Friendly Pouf Chair Concepts
Design Studio701 Creates the Rio Pouffe Concept
Traditional Food Preservation Containers
The 'Twist' Food Storage Container Has a Hidden Chamber
Origami-Inspired Lunch Boxes
The FoldiBox 2 Box has a Flatpack and Technical Design
Intricate Food Waste Teahouses
Mitsubishi Jisho Design Uses Food Waste Materials for Its Pavilion
Japanese Bento-Inspired Stationery
NOOE's Bento Jot Offers an Efficient Storage Solution
Meticulous Paper-Stacked Chairs
Brian Thoreen Creates the Paragraphic in Four Stacks Chairs
Sensibly Sharp Elevated Knives
Grovemade Presents a New Task Knife with Improvements
Animation Studio Cookbooks
Insight Editions Presents the Studio Ghibli Bento Cookbook
Minimal Modern Desk Designs
The Single Desk by found / Founded has a Compact Form
African Culture-Honoring Chair Designs
Jomo Tariku Designs the Dynamic Kungdung Pembe Chair
Suspended Origami-Like Lighting
The Sora Light by Fung + Bedford for Frandsen is Artistic
Paper-Inspired Half-Folded Lamps
Jihoon Shim Designs the Half Lamp Inspired by Origami
Productive Mood Lighting Designs
Teixeira Design Studio Presents Moody Lighting for Gantri
Organic Ancient Design Furniture
The Earth To People Furniture Collection is Naturally Crafted
Festive Bamboo Tissues Papers
The Stack-A-Tree is an Eco-friendly Twist on Holiday Decorations
Rolled-Up Wooden Tables
The Sofan Table by Qi An Has a Clever Rollable Design for Portability
Simplistic Folding Clamshell Smartphones
Andrea Mangone Designs the Minimal 0/1 Phone
Origami-Inspired Cubic Lamps
Alice Chun Designs the MEGAPUFF Lamp with Portable Features
Juxtaposing Themed Furniture Designs
Ogmma Designs the Empírea Series of Furniture
Origami-Inspired Magsafe Grips
Marcy Arimoto Designs the New iPhone Case Inspired by Paper Folding
Industrial Folding Mouse Designs
The Conceptual Emergency Foldable Mouse is Angular
3D-Printed Sustainable Home Designs
HONOKA LAB Presents the TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT
Wavy Lounge Chair Designs
Fereshteh Hajigholami's Design Was Granted the Iron A' Design Award
Origami-Inspired Solar Panels
Sego Innovations Develops a New Foldable and Portable Solar Panel
Bat-Inspired Kitchen Scissors
OTOTO Presents the New Elizabat Scissors for the Kitchen
Confetti-Filled Wrapping Papers
'FettiWrap™' Confetti Wrapping Paper Elevates Amusement
Sustainable Modular Desk Trays
A Team of Designers Join on a Minimal Tray Collection
Seasonal Interactive Fashion Installations
Yoshihisa Tanaka Highlights Washi Paper for SS24
Bespoke Packaging Solutions
The Kite Packaging Corrugated Fan Fold is Ready for Large-Scale Use
Paper-Made Compostable Cutlery
EcoEdge Paper Cutlery is Made with FSC-Certified Material
Wrinkled Plastic Film-Wrapped Furniture
Paul Coenen
Upcycled Plastic Furniture Series
Kasper Kyster Presents the Crafting Plastic Series
Miniature Cylindrical Flower Vases
W DESIGN Creates the HANAKUBARI Vase with Japanese Influence
Harmonious Traditional Home Designs
MAKHNO Studio Updates the Century-Old Kyoto House
Miniature Handheld Graters
Gensuke Kishi Designs the Colorful Irogami Grater for Tsuboe
Celebratory Puzzle Toys
The 50th Anniversary Rubik's Cube Commemorates Five Decades of Play
Engineer Training Structural Kits
Márcio Sequeira de Oliveira Designs the Mola 4 Kit
Paper-Based Instant Noodle Cups
The Pot Noodle Paper Pot Design is Headed to Tesco
Museum-Inspired Tech Accessories
CASETiFY's Ancient Korean Designs for Devices are Elegant
Origami-Inspired Playful Magnetic Blocks
Artur Tikhonenko Designs the Trido Building Blocks
Locally Focused Visionary Tableware
IKEA's Design Lab Presents the New Products of Place Campaign
Japanese Gates-Inspired Benches
Ewan Lamm Designs the Torii Gate Inspired by Torii Gates
Woven Upholstery Textile Capsules
The Elemental Wright Collection Highlights Organic Architecture
Sticky Notes Holder Concepts
This Post-it Note Holder Concept has a Tall Structure
Pneumatic Robotics Kits
The MiuraKit Pneumatic Robot Design Kit is Origami-Inspired
Retro Drawing-Inpsired Furniture
Francesco Paini's Family Project was Inspired by a Drawing
Artist-Inspired Flower Puzzle Sets
BelgianDesigner's LEGO Ideas is Inspired by Murakami's Work
Non-Alcoholic Sake Products
Origami Sake Has Introduced ZERO, a First for the US Market
Demystified Research Design Guides
Ray and Charles Eames Unveil an Eames of Your Own Guide
Organic Plastic Furniture Series
Kasper Kyster Creates the Crafting Plastic Collection
Sustainably Crafted Pavilions
Shigeru Ban Introduces the Paper Log House in the Glass House
Mid-Century-Inspired Paper House Ornaments
West Elm Presents a Series of Paper Christmas Ornaments
Cardboard-Inspired Ceramic Household Art
Jacques Monneraud Designs the Cardboard Collection
Folding Travel Toothbrush Concepts
Uladzislau Patapchyk Designs the IO Travel Toothbrush Concept
Personality-Enhancing Side Tables
The ORDO Book Side Table Features Organized Nooks
Geometric Nostalgic Night Lights
Sergey Buldygin Designs the Cone-Like Handmaid Table Lamp
Squishy Clay-Made Daybeds
Niveau Zéro Atelier Designs the Soft Soil Daybed From Waste Clay
Timeless Furniture Series
Artek Creates the Crafted Through Time Series to Build on Designs
Aegean Architecture-Inspired Home Designs
Studio Kali Designs the Arkhe Collection of Furniture
Artful Four-Poster Bed Installations
Uchronia Creates the Day Bed Installation in Paris
Cardboard Box-Transformed Furniture
Max Lamb Presents the Box Exhibition at Gallery Fumi
Repurposed Furniture Design Exhibitions
Honoka Presents the Tatami Refab Project Exhibition
Structural Washi Paper Lamps
Isamu Noguchi Designs the Stylish Akari Lamps Using Paper
Sustainable Biophilic Stools
Ponti Design Studio Presents the Inspired by Nature Stool
Pottery-Inspired Artful Notebooks
Sutta Design Creates the Dynamic Kintsugi Art Notebook
Portable Foldable Lap Desks
FansDreams Presents the Pi Lap Desk Inspired by Origami
Collapsible Gamer Controller Designs
The 'Swift' Foldable Controller Concept is Compact
Roman Architecture-Themed Pavilions
Pratique and Fanum Design the Forum des Vestiges Pavilion
Beginner Artistic Inspiration
Drawing Prompts Helps Artists Develop a Consistent Practice
Table Paper Saddlebag Organizers
Tilla Goldberg Designs the SALTO Saddlebag for Richard Lampert
Paper-Like Art Museum Roofs
BIG Expands the Museum for Paper Art in Denmark with a Folded Roof
Recycled Paper-Made Desktop Organizers
RAE is an Organizer Series Made from Campus Notebooks
Hybrid Angled Stationary Designs
The 25° Ruler by orangered life Has a Ergonomic Design
Asian Designer Furniture Exhibitions
This Year's Emerge Exhibition Marks the Third Annual Showcase
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Nature-Inspired Design Objects
Students at Tecnológico de Monterrey Design the Plant-Based Series
Whimsically Bright Napkin Holders
PELEG DESIGN Creates the Memorable Balloonapkins
Woven Leaf Lamp Concepts
Antoni Martorell Pascual Designs the Catalina Table Lamp