Japanese Design: A Survey Since 1950 Kathryn B. Hiesinger and Felice Fischer, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1994. 236 pages, Softcover.
Shiro Kuramata, Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan, 1996. 211 pages, Softcover. Signed and dated by Mieko Kuramata. Provenance: Acquired from Mieko Kuramata, Tokyo, 2008.
Shiro Kuramata 1934-1991, Grey Art Gallery and Study Center, New York University, 1998. Rare exhibition pamphlet.
Shiro Kuramata and Ettore Sottsass, 21_21 Design Sight, Miyake Issey Foundation, 2011. 223 pages, Softcover with dustjacket. First edition.
Shiro Kuramata Deyan Sudjic, Phaidon Press Limited, London, 2013. 392 pages, Hardcover. with slipcase, two volumes. First edition, already scarce.
Design – Shiro Kuramata: Collection Zeev Aram, Christie’s Paris, 05/20/2014. The current world record price for Kuramata was set in this auction, for the unique “Homage to Josef Hoffmann: Begin the Beguine” chair.—JZ
Shiro Kuramata & Hiroshi Sugimoto: Works from the Absent Past, Wright Chicago, 01/29/2015.
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.
