Pioneers of American Modernism, Phillips, New York, 06/11/2001. My first auction as department head. Featuring the marvelous Stephen Visakay collection of cocktail shakers, and California design from the collection of Michael and Gabrielle Boyd.—JZ
20th-21st Century Design, Phillips, New York, 12/12/2001.
20-21st Century Design Art, Phillips, New York, 06/22/2002.
21-20th Century Design Art, Phillips, New York, 11/19/2002.
20-19th Century Design Art, Phillips, New York, 12/11/2002.
20-21st Century Design, Phillips, New York, 06/11/2003. Water damage.
20th Century Art & Design, Phillips, New York, 06/11/2003.
20-21st Century Design Art, Phillips, New York, 12/08/2003.
20-21st Century Design Art, Phillips, New York, 06/10/2004.
Design, Phillips, New York, 12/14/2004.
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.
