Skip to main content

Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

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.

to
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
3
3
3
Height
to
Width
to
3
3
3
53
471
278
271
214
Creator: Shiro Kuramata
Shiro Kuramata Hammer House
Shiro Kuramata Hammer House

Shiro Kuramata Hammer House

By Shiro Kuramata

Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hammer house object by Shiro Kuramata. Never used condition in box.  

Category

1980s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Zinc

Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray1 Minimalist Japanese Design
Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray1 Minimalist Japanese Design

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 Sculptures

Materials

Aluminum

Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray2 Minimalist Japanese Design
Shiro Kuramata Spiral Ashtray2 Minimalist Japanese Design

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 Sculptures

Materials

Aluminum

Related Items
Petite Vintage Hollywood Regency Chinese Ceramic Elephant Ashtray
Petite Vintage Hollywood Regency Chinese Ceramic Elephant Ashtray

Petite Vintage Hollywood Regency Chinese Ceramic Elephant Ashtray

Located in Nuernberg, DE

Petite mid-20th century glazed ceramic elephant Ashtray. Handmade of ceramic. Nice addition to your home, man cave or bar.   

Category

1960s German Hollywood Regency Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Lalique French Crystal Jewelry Dish or Ashtray Leaf Design
Lalique French Crystal Jewelry Dish or Ashtray Leaf Design

Lalique French Crystal Jewelry Dish or Ashtray Leaf Design

By Lalique, René Lalique

Located in New York, NY

A very beautiful, signed, Lalique crystal dish with decorative leaf and indent design around edge, circa 20th century, France. Piece is from French luxury crystal maker Lalique. Made...

Category

20th Century French Modern Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Crystal

Flavio Poli Murano Glass Ashtray, Green, Sculptural Design, 1960s
Flavio Poli Murano Glass Ashtray, Green, Sculptural Design, 1960s

Flavio Poli Murano Glass Ashtray, Green, Sculptural Design, 1960s

By Flavio Poli

Located in Milano, IT

1960s Gorgeous green ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Murano sommerso glass. Made in Italy. So rare to find it in this color. The item is in excellent condition witho...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Solid Patinated English Bronze Crab Cancer Lidded Ashtray 420
Solid Patinated English Bronze Crab Cancer Lidded Ashtray 420

Solid Patinated English Bronze Crab Cancer Lidded Ashtray 420

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A large and heavy solid Bronze Ashtray in the shape of a Crab. This piece is a compliment as a decorative piece and also has a hinged top to be used as an ashtray for your perfect sm...

Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Arthur Secunda Acrylic Sculpture Title "Life" Signed, Numbered, 12/20
Arthur Secunda Acrylic Sculpture Title "Life" Signed, Numbered, 12/20

Arthur Secunda Acrylic Sculpture Title "Life" Signed, Numbered, 12/20

By Arthur Secunda

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful sculpture celebrating " Life" by the well known artist Arthur Second. This piece has a dedication under base as shown .Is signed and numbe...

Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Acrylic

Flavio Poli Bullicante Murano Glass Ashtray, 1960s Italian Design
Flavio Poli Bullicante Murano Glass Ashtray, 1960s Italian Design

Flavio Poli Bullicante Murano Glass Ashtray, 1960s Italian Design

By Flavio Poli

Located in Milano, IT

1960s Gorgeous ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Bullicante Murano glass. Made in Italy The item is in excellent condition. Dimension: 3,93 diameter x 1,96 H inches cm...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Lladró The Kiss Couple Sculpture in Golden Luster by Antonio Ramos
Lladró The Kiss Couple Sculpture in Golden Luster by Antonio Ramos

Lladró The Kiss Couple Sculpture in Golden Luster by Antonio Ramos

$4,860 / item

H 12.992 in W 12.205 in D 6.693 in

Lladró The Kiss Couple Sculpture in Golden Luster by Antonio Ramos

By Lladro, Antonio Ramos

Located in New York City, NY

Porcelain sculpture of a representation of the work of the painter Gustav Klimt with great decoration with different types of gilded luster. This piece, inspired by the most famous w...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bracelet "Rhea" Gold-Plated Hand-Hammered by Jacques Jarrige
Bracelet "Rhea" Gold-Plated Hand-Hammered by Jacques Jarrige

Bracelet "Rhea" Gold-Plated Hand-Hammered by Jacques Jarrige

By Jacques Jarrige

Located in New York, NY

From Jacques Jarrige's first jewelry collection: "Rhea" bracelet gold-plated and hand-hammered. The bracelet is also available in silver. Jacques Jarrige was born into a Parisian fa...

Category

2010s French Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Gold Plate

Cat Brass Ashtray or Bowl
Cat Brass Ashtray or Bowl

Cat Brass Ashtray or Bowl

$280

H 1.19 in W 5.12 in D 4.34 in

Cat Brass Ashtray or Bowl

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

1950 vintage cat brass ashtray or bowl. This can be used as a sculpture too.

Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Scott Mitchell Houses

Scott Mitchell Houses

$65 / item

H 13.2 in W 10.2 in D 1.2 in

Scott Mitchell Houses

By Rizzoli International Publications, Calvin Klein

Located in New York, NY

A stunning volume that gathers the California designer's most impressive works to date, from coastal sanctuaries to modern country farms. A master of his genre, Scott Mitchell is celebrated for his warm approach to connecting the built and natural environment. Sought after for their minimalist, material-driven aesthetic, Mitchell's houses are studies in space, materiality, and light. Emphasizing an elegant spatial order, his projects respond to the natural appeal of their locations, be they bucolic retreats on Long Island or resplendent beach houses overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The first volume on his work, Scott Mitchell Houses is a sublime exploration of the architectural designer's impressive portfolio of projects. Dynamic compositions of light and shadow with a masterful use of concrete, Mitchell's monolithic forms draw on the surrounding environment via floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto vistas so cinematic that Tom Ford utilized one of Mitchell's homes in his neo-noir film Nocturnal Animals. Through previously unpublished photographs, readers are given an exclusive view into eight pivotal projects that span the globe from the Hamptons to Melbourne, featuring images by Ross Bleckner, Scott Frances, Trevor Mein, and Steve Shaw...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Paper

Glass Houses
Glass Houses

Glass Houses

$50 / item

H 11.38 in W 9.88 in D 2 in

Glass Houses

By Phaidon

Located in New York, NY

An inspiring collection of 50 spectacular houses built almost entirely from glass Glass Houses presents 50 stunning architect-designed homes that utilize glass to maximum effect. Th...

Category

2010s Chinese Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Paper

Great Quality Carved & Superb Condition Wooden Corpus Christi on Crucifix, 1800s
Great Quality Carved & Superb Condition Wooden Corpus Christi on Crucifix, 1800s

Great Quality Carved & Superb Condition Wooden Corpus Christi on Crucifix, 1800s

Located in Lisse, NL

Antique crucifix with stunning hand carved details and an amazing patina. This remarkable and good size crucifix with a sculpture of a suffering Christ on the cross is another one...

Category

Early 19th Century German Gothic Antique Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood, Oak

Previously Available Items
Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra
Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra

Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra

Sold

H 27.75 in W 37.25 in D 32.75 in

Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra

By Vitra, Shiro Kuramata

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.

Category

20th Century German Modern Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Nickel

Shiro Kuramata Umbrella Stand for Pastoe, 1986, Netherlands
Shiro Kuramata Umbrella Stand for Pastoe, 1986, Netherlands

Shiro Kuramata Umbrella Stand for Pastoe, 1986, Netherlands

By Shiro Kuramata

Located in Brussels, BE

Shiro Kuramata umbrella stand designed in 1986 for Pastoe, Netherlands. Small production. Enameled steel, chrome-plated steel, rubber. Dimensions: H 87 cm, W 48 cm, D 38 cm. Good...

Category

1980s Dutch Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Steel

"How High the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986
"How High the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

"How High the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

Sold

H 27.96 in W 37.41 in D 31.89 in

"How High the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

By Shiro Kuramata

Located in Dronten, NL

"How high the Moon" armchair. Designed in 1986 and handmade by Kurosaki for Vitra. Nickel-plated expanded steel mesh. In production from 1987-200...

Category

1980s German Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Nickel, Steel

"How high the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986
"How high the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

"How high the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

Sold

H 27.96 in W 37.41 in D 31.89 in

"How high the Moon" Shiro Kuramata, 1986

By Shiro Kuramata

Located in Dronten, NL

"How high the Moon" armchair. Designed in 1986 and handmade by Kurosaki for Vitra. Nickel-plated expanded steel mesh. In production from 1987-2...

Category

1980s Swiss Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Sculptures

Materials

Nickel, Steel

Shiro Kuramata sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Shiro Kuramata sculptures 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 sculptures, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Shiro Kuramata sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,500 and can go as high as $3,300, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,400.