Important Contemporary International Design, Christie's, New York, 12/10/1993.
Italian Design, Christie's, South Kensington, 06/03/1998.
Modernism, Christie's, South Kensington, 03/17/1999.
The Chair, Christie's, London, 10/29/1997. One of the all-time great design catalogues, it represented a new approach towards curating auctions on the history of modern design, from Thonet to Arad.—JZ
The Chair, Christie's, London, 05/11/1999.
Important Design, Christie's, East, New York, 11/27/1999. The most important sale of pure modern design up to that point, featuring masterworks by Eames, Noguchi, Mollino and many others.—JZ
Important Design, Christie's, South Kensington, 06/14/2000.
The Chair, Christie's, London, 11/09/2000.
Designed by Architects: Important Design, Christie's, South Kensington, 10/10/2001.
Designed by Architects Including Important 20th Century Design, Christie's, London, 10/08/2003.
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.
