What’s this? At first glance, it looks like a picture of some bread, and very tasty-looking golden brown bread too. But wait, is the bread … glowing? Is it some trick of the eye, or is there something seriously wrong with the bread? Well, neither, in this case. This eye-catching item, found by one of the reporters at our sister site Pouch, is actually a lamp, so it’s supposed to glow. What makes the product unique, though, is that it’s made from real bread! Join us for a look at the different types of bread that have been turned masterfully into a light source!
The bread-turned-lamp, called the Pampshade — a combination of the word for bread (pan in Japanese or pain in French) and the word lampshade — is a creation by Japanese designer Yukiko Morita who is based in the city of Kobe.
The unique yet endearing lamps were born out of Morita’s passion for bread, which she describes on her website with the following: “I love bread. Bread is so cute, I want to decorate my room with different breads and just stare at them forever.” Now, that’s some serious love! And the breads she uses for her lamps isn’t just any ordinary bread. They’re from renowned bakeries Shinshindo in Kyoto and the Bigot shop at the Kobe International House (Kobe Kokusai Kaikan) in Kobe’s Sannomiya district. No wonder the bread lamps look so real and appetizing!
There are seven types of lamps currently shown on Morita’s website:
▼The Petite Boule (battery-operated, 4,500 yen [US$39.26]) 
▼The Coupe (battery-operated, 4,500 yen)
▼ The Champigion (battery-operated, 4,500 yen)
▼The Petit Croissant (battery-operated, 5,500 yen [$47.98])
▼The Boule (plug-in, 8,500 yen [$74.15])
▼The Batard (plug-in, 9,500 yen [$82.88])
▼The Baguette (plug-in, 9,500 yen)
The pampshades are available at several shops across Japan in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, but not all items may be in stock, so you may want to call and check beforehand if you intend on visiting one of the shops.
Well, we have to say Morita’s love of bread certainly “shines through” her lamps. While it’s a unique way of showing her affection, we think it’s resulted in a lovely product that gives us a warm feeling just from looking at it. Hmm …on second thought, it may make you hungry as well! Who ever thought a lamp would make you want to go to the bakery? Here’s hoping that something looking this good will always light your way!
Source and photos: Pampshade
Original article by: Yayoi Saginomiya (c) Pouch
[ Read in Japanese ]