Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Japanese, 1934-1991
Few designers have blended Minimalism and Surrealism into artistic furniture as successfully as Shiro Kuramata. His experimentation with form, function, color and motif informed cabinets, chairs and side tables that are as mystifying as they are visually striking.
Born in Tokyo in 1934, Kuruamata studied at the Kuwasawa Design School. In the 1970s and ’80s, he explored industrial materials in his designs. Inspired by Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass, Kuramata produced irreverent and bold work. In 1981, Kuramata joined Sottsass in his founding of the Memphis Group, named for a Bob Dylan song. The Milan-based collective aimed to turn the status quo on its head and redefine what was considered appealing in modern furniture style.
His experience with the Memphis Group led Kuramata to embrace unconventional optical effects. No piece embodies this more skillfully than the Miss Blanche chair. Crafted with transparent resin and flecked with rose-petal flecks, it gives the illusion that the sitter is floating.
The How High the Moon armchair is a prime example of his playful nature and willingness to challenge the expectations for furniture design. Including shards of colored glass in concrete surfaces, his “star piece” material was prevalent throughout his work, giving the tops of his end tables and coffee tables a brazen, gem-encrusted appearance. His daring approach to design can also be seen in pieces like his sheer glass bookcases with their seemingly fragile shelves.
Kuramata created many visual delights before his death in 1991. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His pieces remain highly prized by collectors and design enthusiasts worldwide.
On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Shiro Kuramata seating, storage pieces, decorative objects and more.
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Creator: Shiro Kuramata
Japan Mid-Century Floor Lamp Ghost 'Fantasma' by Kuramata for Yamagiwa, 1972
By Shiro Kuramata, Yamagiwa
Located in MIlano, IT
Japan mid-century Floor lamp ghost (Fantasma) by Kuramata for Yamagiwa, 1972.
Floor lamp ghost (Fantasma) in plexiglass. The white acrylic glass shade has the shape of a floating clo...
Category
1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal
Shiro Kuramata Progetti Compiuti, Side 1 Cabinet in Ashwood for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Progetti Compiuti chest of drawers, designed by Shiro Kuramata, includes an array of furnishing elements with drawers. The frame of the side 1 ch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Ash
Kyoto Metal and Terrazo End Table, by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano Collect.
By Shiro Kuramata, Memphis Milano, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Kyoto end table in metal and terrazzo, designed in 1983 by Shiro Kuramata.
Shiro Kuramata studied architecture at Tokyo Polytechnic in Tokyo unti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal
Shiro Kuramata Homage to Mondrian Red and Blue Cabinet for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
There is a strong connection between Capellini and the art world, as confirmed by the presence of the Homage to Mondrian cabinet in the catalogue. Thi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Wood
Shiro Kuramata Homage to Mondrian White and Yellow Cabinet for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
There is a strong connection between Capellini and the art world, as confirmed by the presence of the Homage to Mondrian cabinet in the catalogue. Thi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Wood
Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray2 Minimalist Japanese Design
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's ashtray1. Made of black aluminum.
Rather optical art object than usual astray.
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray1 Minimalist Japanese Design
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's ashtray1. Made of black aluminum.
Rather optical art object than usual astray.
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Memphis Table By Shiro Kuramata Sally Glass Chrome Rolling Table, 1987
By Shiro Kuramata, Memphis Group
Located in Vienna, AT
Round rolling table sally by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis, 1987
Dimensions are 30.31" x 23.35" x 23.35"
Iconic table 'Sally' by Shiro Kuramata, Japan, 1987 for Memphis. Comprised of ...
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Shiro Kuramata Wire Mesh Arm Chair
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Post-War Design (1960s) steel wire mesh "Sing Sing" arm chair with roll form back & front to seat supported on a chrome tubular frame. (Shiro Kuramata).
Category
20th Century American Modern Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel
1960s Japanese "Sing Sing" Steel Mesh Armchair by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Shiro Kuramata, 1960s Japanese steel wire mesh "Sing Sing" armchair with roll form back and front to seat supported on a chrome tubular frame.
Category
1960s Japanese Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
Two "Imperial" Cabinets by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The notion of the container and the secrecy that can abound from it was an important preoccupation for the stellar Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata --- perhaps because he grew out of...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Kuramata Side 1 Furniture in Irregular Form 1989
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in London, GB
A Kuramata side 1 eighteen drawers cabinet in cherrywood.
Shiro Kuramata was a Japanese designer from 1965 when he founded the Kuramata Design Office in Tokyo...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Wool
HAL1 Table Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
HAL1 table designed by Shiro Kuramata for Cassina Interdecor in 1988. Unique steel legs and white painted Oriented strand board.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
HAL2 Chair Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
HAL2 chair designed by Shiro Kuramata for Cassina Inderdecor in 1987.
Vinyl seat and expand metal back.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel
Nara Serving Table, by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano Collection
By Shiro Kuramata, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Shiro Kuramata
1983
Service table made with the traditional technique of terrazzo in concrete conglomerate and coloured glass.
Nara perfectly combines the Japanese aesthetic traditi...
Category
2010s Italian Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Concrete
Shiro Kuramata, How High the Moon, Vitra Edition
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Untersiggenthal, AG
Vitra limited 1. Edition with sticker Label produced in 1991.
Category
1990s European Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Metal
Shiro Kuramata Pink Vase
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Small model. Acrylic block which pink is inside and glass tube.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
Spiral Clock B #2 Silver Body Shiro Kuramata Japanese Zen
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spiral clock B #2 silver body designed by Shiro Kuramata. Dial is inside acrylic edge rounded shade.
Black body model is also available.
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
Spiral Clock B #2 black Shiro Kuramata Japanese Zen Minimal Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spiral clock B #2 black body designed by Shiro Kuramata. Dial is inside acrylic edge rounded shade.
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
Spiral Clock B Shiro Kuramata Japanese Zen Minimal Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spiral clock B designed by Shiro Kuramata. Dial is inside acrylic edge rounded shade.
Category
1980s Japanese Minimalist Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
Spiral Clock a Shiro Kuramata Japanese Zen Minimal Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spiral clock designed by Shiro Kuramata. Dial is inside acrylic edge rounded shade.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Acrylic
Pair of 1960s Japanese "Sing Sing" Armchairs by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 1960s Japanese steel wire mesh "Sing Sing" armchairs by Shiro Kuramata. The chairs feature roll form backs and seats supported on a tubular chro...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Steel
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Vase Violet
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block.
Contemporary single flower vase.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Vase Blue
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminum tube put into acrylic block.
Contemporary single flower vase.
Category
1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Furniture
Materials
Glass, Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Shiro Kuramata furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Shiro Kuramata furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 53 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 19 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Shiro Kuramata were created in the modern style in japan during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by and Masanori Umeda. Prices for Shiro Kuramata furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $600 and can go as high as $80,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,460.
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Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shiro Kuramata Vases and Vessels
Shiro Kuramata Table Lamps
Shiro Kuramata Side Tables
Shiro Kuramata Sculptures
Shiro Kuramata Floor Lamps
Shiro Kuramata Lounge Chairs
Shiro Kuramata End Tables