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Shiro Kuramata Lighting

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
Rare early K-series (Oba- Q/Ghost) table lamp by Shiro Kuramata (Medium size)
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Centreville, VA
This masterpiece, K-series or another name Oba- Q, epitomizes Japanese post-modernism designed in 1972 by Shiro Kuramata, the Japanese legendary interior designer. Another name Oba ...
Category

1970s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Lighting

Materials

Acrylic

Rare early K-series (Oba- Q/Ghost) table lamp by Shiro Kuramata (Large)
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Centreville, VA
This masterpiece, K-series or another name Oba- Q, epitomizes Japanese post-modernism designed in 1972 by Shiro Kuramata, the Japanese legendary interior designer. Another name Oba ...
Category

1970s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Lighting

Materials

Acrylic

Oba-Q Ghost Lamp by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Naples, FL
Origin: Japan, Produced by Yamigiwa 1972
Category

1970s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Lighting

Materials

Acrylic

Large Oba-Q K Series 'Ghost' Lamp, Shiro Kuramata for Yamagiwa, Japan, 1972
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Large Oba-Q K series floor lamp by Shiro Kuramata. White acrylic shade with external light source. Excellent condition. Kuramata, one of the most influential post-modern designers, i...
Category

1970s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Lighting

Materials

Acrylic

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 Lighting

Materials

Metal

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Shiro Kuramata lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Shiro Kuramata lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of plastic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Shiro Kuramata lighting, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original lighting by Shiro Kuramata were created in the mid-century modern style in japan during the 1970s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Masayuki Kurokawa, Yamagiwa, and H.T. Huang. Prices for Shiro Kuramata lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,200 and can go as high as $8,234, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,800.

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