Machine Art, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1994. Softcover. Sixtieth-anniversary edition reprint of the 1934 The Museum of Modern Art exhibition catalogue, with new preface by Philip Johnson.
Mies van der Rohe Philip Johnson, Museum of Modern Art, 1947. 206 pages, Hardcover. First edition (12,000 copies). Provenance: Edward Wormley. Missing dust jacket; ex-library, with the usual markings and a bookplate “Gift of Edward Wormley.” Spine is slightly loose, a well-read reference copy.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Arthur Drexler, The Makers of Modern World Architecture Series, George Braziller, New York, 1961. 127 pages, Softcover.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Furniture and Furniture Drawings from the Design Collection and the Mies van der Rohe Archive, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1977. 88 pages, Softcover. First edition.
Mies van der Rohe Werner Blaser, Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 1997. 246 pages, Softcover.
Philip Johnson and The Museum of Modern Art, Studies in Modern Art 6, The Museum of Modern Art, 1998. 168 pages, Softcover.
The Farnsworth House, 1945-1951, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Sotheby’s New York, 12/12/2003. 42 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. Extremely limited edition with etched plexiglass front cover, galvanized metal spine and cover. One of the most exciting sales of my career, and one of the most beautiful auction catalogues ever produced.—JZ
The Glass House: Pairings, 2007. 120 pages, Hardcover. Edition of 2500. To commemorate the opening of the Philip Johnson Glass House to the public. Designed by Pentagram.
Modern Views: Inspired by the Mies van der Rohde Farnsworth House and the Philip Johnson Glass House, Assouline, New York, 2010. 216 pages, Hardcover with dustjacket. First edition.
Partners: Alfred H. Barr Jr. and Philip Johnson, The Liliane and David M. Stewart Program for Modern Design, Monacelli Press, New York, 2015. 240 pages, Hardcover. First edition. A superb and somewhat overlooked book on MoMA’s architecture and design program.—JZ
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.
