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.
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.
Steel
Shiro Kuramata flower vase pale pink acrylic Japanese minimalist style
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block. It's great work of Japanese minimalist style. Transparent body makes complex light reflections around. ...
Aluminum
$2,500 / item
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.
Glass, Acrylic
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.
Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata flower vase blue acrylic Japanese minimalist style
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block. It's great work of Japanese minimalist style. Transparent body makes complex light reflections around. ...
Aluminum
Shiro Kuramata flower vase violet acrylic Japanese minimalist style
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata's acrylic flower vase. Aluminium tube put into acrylic block. It's great work of Japanese minimalist style. Transparent body makes complex light reflections around. ...
Aluminum
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. Black steel frame and white plate in minimalist style.
Steel
Shiro Kuramata Hammer House
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hammer house object by Shiro Kuramata. Never used condition in box.
Zinc
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.
Aluminum
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Pink Vase, Large Japanese Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata acrylic pink vase large model. Mint condition. Pink and clear acrylic bock with glass tube.
Glass, Acrylic
20th Century, Shiro Kuramata Vase Mod. Ikebana, Small in Glass by '80s
By Shiro Kuramata, Cristalleria ColleVilca
Located in Turin, Turin
Shiro Kuramata was one of the most important Japanese designers of the 20th century. The charm of the works of Shiro Kuramata lies in the perfect combination of the traditional aesth...
Glass
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.
Aluminum
$6,917Sale Price|20% Off
Set of 4 rare hand blown Soliflore ikebana glass vases by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in London, GB
Rare Soliflore Ikebana vases by Shiro Kuramata, for Cristalleria ColleVilca. Suited to house a single stem each, these delicate hand blown vases featured a single leaf-like element, ...
Blown Glass
Signed Japanese Arita Kakiemon Vase with Flowers Design 1950s
By Arita, Sakaida Kakiemon Xii
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Mid century Signed Japanese Kakiemon Arita Imari Vase with Flowers.Signed Japanese Kakiemon vase by Sakaida Kakiemon XIII (1906-1982). A beautif...
Porcelain
Japanese Modern Minimalist LAAB Dome Vase Raku Ceramic White Crakle
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Dome vase Singular, unpredictable cracks and tiny speckles distinguish the captivating aesthetic of this vase, featuring a cylindrical base and mouth incorporated within the spher...
Ceramic
Japanese Vase with Birds and Flowers Design
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Japanese vase with birds and flowers design Meiji period relief decoration late 19th century Japanese origin piece in perfect condition pa...
Bronze
Pink Marble Wine Cooler / Vase
Located in Eindhoven, NB
This pink marble vase adds shape and texture to any ordinary table or shelf. Use it as a wine cooler to hold a bottle during dinners or as a simple vase for flowers. Each design vase...
Marble
Vintage Italian Postmodern Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Hamburg, DE
Vintage Italian Postmodern Wall Clock from Junghans, 1980s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989 This piece has an attribution mark.
Plastic
1980s Postmodern Canetti Wall Clock
By Wakita
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A vibrant postmodern wall clock from Canetti's Moderntime Collection, showcasing the playful geometric abstraction of perfect 1980s design. Featuring a light gray face encased in a m...
Metal
1960s Minimalist Orange Vase Sake Bottle Japan
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a 1960s modern minimalist aesthetic orange vase. Small bud vase Japanese sake bottle. Maker stamp ATC Dimensions: 5 H x 2 diameter. Please visit take a look...
Ceramic
$918 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 10.24 in
Japanese Modern Minimalist LAAB Dome L Vase Raku Ceramic White Crakle
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Dome L vase A bulging body marked by generous curves and enlivened by tiny dark speckles defines this exquisite ceramic vase, whose characteristic, delicate cracks result from a d...
Ceramic
Japanese Flower Vase Takaoka Seido Bronze, 1930s
Located in Paris, FR
This is an antique flower vase with Takaoka bronze. It was made around 1930s in early Showa era and made in Takaoka city (Toyama prefecture, Japan). Dimensions: 16 x 16 x H22 cm.
Bronze
Pink Ombre Venus Vase by Elyse Graham
Located in Geneve, CH
Pink Ombre venus vase by Elyse Graham Dimensions: W 14 x D 14 x H 38 cm Materials: Plaster, Resin MOLDED, DYED, AND FINISHED BY HAND IN LA. CUSTOMIZATION...
Resin, Plaster
$229
H 13.19 in W 8.86 in D 5.52 in
Blue and White Flowers Victorian Style Staffordshire Ironstone Pottery Vase
By Staffordshire
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Delightful double handled Staffordshire Ironstone vase with Victorian style blue flower motif / design. Add a splash of color / colour to your home decor with this beautiful blue and...
Clay, Pottery, Ironstone
Lorenz Nicolai Canetti Postmodern Memphis Wall Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
1980s Postmodern Memphis wall clock designed by Nicolai Canetti for the "ARTime Collection" Featuring a black frame and colorful geometric hands. S...
Plastic
Spiral Clock B #3 Silver Body Shiro Kuramata Japanese Zen
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Spiral clock B #3 silver body designed by Shiro Kuramata. Dial is inside acrylic edge rounded shade. Black body model is also available.
Steel
"Vase #2" Acrylic Bud Vase by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is the "#2 Vase" by Shiro Kuramata, featuring the classic beautiful submersion of pink. This sculptural vase is 4.5" x 4.5" x 7.5, a wonderful size for a desk accessory or a wel...
Lucite, Glass
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.
Steel
Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra
By Shiro Kuramata, Vitra
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " chair for Vitra. Nickel-plated steel mesh with vitra tag to the underside.
Nickel
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.
Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata Pink Vase spare glass tube
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Two spare glass tubes
Glass, Acrylic
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.
Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Pink Vase, Large Japanese Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata acrylic pink vase large model. Mint condition. Pink and clear acrylic bock with glass tube.
Glass, Acrylic
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.
Glass, Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Pink Vase, Large Japanese Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata acrylic pink vase large model. Mint condition. Pink and clear acrylic bock with glass tube.
Glass, Acrylic
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.
Glass, Acrylic
Shiro Kuramata Acrylic Pink Vase, Large Japanese Postmodern
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shiro Kuramata acrylic pink vase large model. Mint condition. Pink and clear acrylic bock with glass tube.
Glass, Acrylic