MILAN — “The lamp in itself is a neutral object, but the person who handles it is able to convey its expressive power, which translates into the strength of its light,” 91-year-old designer Tobia Scarpa told WWD.

A master of light and design, Veneto-born Scarpa is the son of Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. Since the 1960s, he has gained fame on the international stage for his fresh designs that broke with the past — furniture, objects and lamps among them.

On Thursday, digital-first design retailer Lumens told WWD that Tobia Scarpa and lighting manufacturer Flos introduced one of his most legendary designs to the U.S. market, the Seki-Han lamp. The lamp is being sold exclusively on the Lumens marketplace.

Named after the Japanese term for red rice, Seki-Han resembles the lightsaber from the “Star Wars” trilogy ensconced in wood. The archival reissue from lighting manufacturer Flos was designed by Scarpa in 1963. An era of experimentation, it was a time shaped in part by new materials from the U.S. and a period when Flos created modern pieces that have endured as bestsellers. Those pieces include the iconic Arco floor lamp and the Snoopy, designed by brothers Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni in 1962 and 1967, respectively. Other complex lamps for the time include the Nuvola and the Fantasma, which Scarpa designed with his wife, the late architect Afra Bianchin Scarpa.

“Experimentation to develop a large number of lamps in a short time allowed the company to be founded and grow rapidly. We experimented with various technologies and other materials; in just a few years, we equipped the company with new, highly distinctive lamps suited to a wide variety of applications. We wanted to offer a wide range of fixtures to strengthen the company’s presence on the market and see if other companies would be ready to respond,” he reminisced. The Seki-Han lamp was only in production for three years, ceasing in 1966.

Lumens and Flos are owned by the Flos B&B Italia group. The conglomerate is also home to B&B Italia, Maxalto and Arclinea kitchens, as well as Copenhagen-based lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen and furniture firm Audo Copenhagen.

Before the reedit’s debut in 2025, Scarpa worked closely with Flos’ research and development team to evolve Seki-Han for a contemporary audience with updated materials and technology. Once fixed in place, the wooden blades — now crafted with ash wood — have been reengineered to rotate, allowing users to control the degree of aperture and the intensity of light flow. The reedition also features a custom designed linear LED tube developed by Flos specifically for this piece, featuring a warm color temperature that complements the wood material, 360-degree light emission, and an integrated dimmer function. Seki-Han is also available as a suspension light, although it was originally conceived only as a floor lamp.

“It is a targeted technological evolution, with small improvements that have increased performance and light quality. The increased length of the light source allows for a greater amount of light compared to the first version,” he explained.

Lumens chief marketing director Dana Gers said exclusives like these generate storytelling moments and opportunities to build deeper relationships with brands. She also commented on the enduring popularity of Scarpa’s designs.

“He has created so many iconic pieces that have enduring power today. Still, some of our bestselling products, like the Scarpa’s Folio wall sconce by Flos, he designed in the 1960s. To have someone who has a legacy like that and who is still actively creating is really remarkable,” Gers said.