Swedish Arts and Crafts. Swedish Modern – A Movement Towards Sanity in Design, The Royal Swedish Commission, New York World’s Fair, 1939. 95 pages, Softcover. With tipped-in wallpaper samples. First edition, rare. Provenance: Dennis Johansson, Malmo, Sweden. The front cover is loose and the paper on the spine is fragile with losses. Otherwise very good.
Design in Scandinavia: An Exhibition of Objects for the Home from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden Arne Remlov, editor, 1954. 125 pages, Softcover. First and only edition. Provenance: Devta Doolan, Deer Isle, Maine. A superb copy of an important and rare publication. Iconic cover and layout by Tapio Wirkkala. Organized by a committee from the four countries, the exhibition was held in 27 cities in North America from 1954 to 1963 and played a significant role in the commercial success of Nordic midcentury design.—JZ Minor foxing to a few pages and the inside back cover; several minor losses to the top layer of paper on the spine; ear fine condition.
Svensk Heminredning (Swedish Design) Lilly Arrhenius, Victor Pettersons Bokindustri AB, Stockholm, 1957. 102 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. First edition. Provenance: Dennis Johansson, Malmo, Sweden. Ex-Swedish library, but barely discernable with only one stamp mark and traces of the card pocket in the back. Minor edgewear to the jacket.
Norwegian Arts and Crafts – Industrial Design Ferdinand Aars, Dreyers Forlag, Oslo, ND, 1957-58. 77 pages, Softcover. Presumed first edition, rare. Edgewear to the cover. Minor wear to the Swiss binding. Otherwise, fine.
A Treasury of Scandinavian Design Erik Zahle, ed, Golden Press, New York, 1961. 300 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. First edition. When it came to Scandinavian design propaganda, if Design in Scandinavia was the serious museum publication, A Treasury… was the popular coffee table book version.—JZ Edgewear to the jacket, foxing to the first few pages, otherwise fine
Scandinavian Design Charlotte and Peter Fiell, Taschen, Cologne, 2002. 703 pages, Softcover.
Scandinavian Modern Houses: The Spirit of Nordic Light Per Nagel, Living Architecture Publishing, Copenhagen, 2006. 242 pages, Hardcover. First edition.
Scandinavian Design and the United States Bobbye Tigerman and Monica Obniski, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Milwaukee Art Museum, Delmonico Books, Prestel, 202. 336 pages, Hardcover. First edition.
Swedish Grace: Art and Design in 1920s Sweden, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2022. 248 pages, Hardcover. First edition.
At the intersection of scholarship and connoisseurship lies Curated: The Design and Library of James Zemaitis—an offering that reflects a career spent exploring, documenting, and shaping the discourse around modern and contemporary design. This carefully assembled selection includes both a compelling group of design works and a rich library of publications that have guided and inspired James Zemaitis throughout his decades in the field.
As Director of Museum Relations at R & Company since 2016, James has played a central role in developing exhibitions and fostering institutional partnerships. His recent curatorial projects, including Born Too Tall: California Women Designers, Postwar to Postmodern, demonstrate a thoughtful and inclusive approach to design history. Prior to his time at R & Company, James held leadership positions at Sotheby’s and Phillips, producing over fifty design sales and helping shape the trajectory of the postwar and contemporary design market.
This collection reflects James’s deep engagement with the material and intellectual history of design. The included library—rich with foundational texts, rare catalogues, and scholarly references—provides a rare window into the ideas and research that have underpinned his work as a curator, advisor, and educator.
This auction brings together design and scholarship in a way that reflects a lifetime of passion and purpose. We are honored to invite collectors, curators, and enthusiasts alike to discover a collection shaped by insight, research, and enduring care.
