20th Century Design: The Collection of Barry Friedman, Sotheby's, New York, 11/19/1992. Important and encyclopedic history of Barry Friedman’s gallery inventory: Austrian bentwood, Rietveld, Bauhaus, Ernest Boiceau, André Arbus, Mollino.—JZ
20th Century Decorative Arts Including Property from The Collection of Fifty/50 Gallery, Sotheby's, New York. Forged from tragedy, Mark McDonald’s sale of the contents of his legendary first gallery resulted in the birth of the modern design auction market, and the first significant price for an Eames prototype.—JZ
Important 20th Century Design, Sotheby's, New York, 12/12/2003. My first auction at Sotheby’s. Highlights included Farnsworth House, the French mid-century collection of Bill Stewart, and everything but the kitchen sink. I still own the Thonet key on the cover.—JZ
The Collecting Eye of Seymour Stein, Sotheby's, New York, 12/11/2003.
Important 20th Century Design, Sotheby's, New York, 06/17/2004. Highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s San Francisco office, Mies van der Rohe’s furniture from the Seagram Building, prototype lamps by Thomas Stearns from his collection.—JZ
Property from the Collection of Pierre Bergé, Sotheby's, New York, 11/30/2004.
Important 20th Century Design, Sotheby's, New York, 06/14/2006. World records for a Lockheed Lounge and a Jazz Bowl, the Nakashima collection of Ben Shahn, Noguchi’s IN-62 table, a collection of Rene Herbst furniture, and much more.—JZ
Important 20th Century Design, Sotheby's, New York, 12/15/2006.
American Renaissance, Sotheby's, New York, 12/15/2006.
20th Century Decorative Arts, Sotheby's, New York, 03/31/2007.
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.
