Skip to main content

Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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.

4
3
to
6
1
7
4
4
3
4
3
4
3
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
4
2
2
2
1
5
5
1
1
1
63
142
117
59
58
Creator: Shiro Kuramata
Shiro Kuramata Revolving Cabinet in Red Polish Acrylic Plastic for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The revolving cabinet looks like a mobile sculpture: light and innovative, it is the perfect emblem of the projects designed by Shiro Kuramata. Revol...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Acrylic

Shiro Kuramata Side 1 drawer cabinet Cappellini Italy 1989
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Super rare an one of the first Side 1 drawer cabinets designed by Shiro Kuramata and manufactured by Cappellini in Italy in 1989. The 'Side One' was first execu...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

Italian Modern Chest of Drawers Side 1 by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini, 1990s
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Chest of drawers Side 1 by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini, 1990s Chest of drawers mod. Side 1 with a sinuous silhouette in wood. Th...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Rubber, Wood

Shiro Kuramata Furniture in Irregular Forms Side 1 Cabinet by Cappellini, Italy
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in Kansas City, MO
This is an excellent example of the Side 1 Cabinet by Shiro Kuramata. Part of the Progetti Compiuti Collection of drawers first designed by Shiro Ku...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Nikko Drawers in Metal and Wood by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Shiro Kuramata
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Nikko drawers in metal and wood by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano collection Additional information: Drawers on metal structure, in wood and painted finish. Collection: Memph...
Category

2010s Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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 Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ash

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 Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wool

Related Items
Oak Two Drawer File Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
his vintage oak two drawer file cabinet is a stylish and functional storage solution for your home or office. It features two spacious drawers with metal pulls, perfect for storing i...
Category

20th Century American Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Oak Two Drawer File Cabinet
Oak Two Drawer File Cabinet
H 28.5 in W 17 in D 24.5 in
Shiro Kuramata Revolving Cabinet for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Stunning "Revolving Cabinet" by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini, Italy. The revolving cabinet looks like a mobile sculpture: light and innovative, it is the perfect emblem of the proj...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Steel

Italian Cane Organic Modern Pedestal Chest of Drawers
By Dal Vera, Bielecky Brothers
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Amazing midcentury bamboo, Rattan and wicker chest of drawers. This wonderful piece was designed in Italy during the 1980s. A fan...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Shiro Kuramata Steelpipe Drink Trolley in Metal for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed in 1968, the steel pipe drink trolley, by Shiro Kuramata, is still strikingly contemporary, a reflection of the research in which form and function are immediatel...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

GLASS SHELVES #1 '1976', by Shiro Kuramata for Glas Italia
By Glas Italia, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Macherio, IT
Glass Shelves #1 (1976) Shelves is shown here in the transparent glass. Bookcase characterised by the extraordinary formal cleanness and the golden proportions, entirely realized in ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Glass

Imperial Cabinet by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Shiro Kuramata
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Imperial cabinet with internal shelf by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano collection Available in silver, black and aubergine. In stock th...
Category

2010s Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Hardwood

Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Side by Side Dresser Chest of Drawers Chifforobe
By Durland
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Danish Mid-Century Modern teak side by side dresser chest of drawers chifforobe credenza.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Teak

Modern Indigo Chest of Drawers
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Modern indigo chest of drawers. Featuring navy indigo lacquered linen finish. With elegant acrylic handles and polished nickel details. Price includes complimentary scheduled curb...
Category

2010s American Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Modern Indigo Chest of Drawers
Modern Indigo Chest of Drawers
H 31 in W 32 in D 19.5 in
Simon Russell for Kartell 8 Drawer Stacking File Cabinet, 1970s
By Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Simon Russell for Kartell 8 drawer stacking file cabinet, 1970s. Incredible, eight drawer, stacking file cabinet, by Simon Russell for Kartell, circa 197...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Acrylic

Industrial 98 Drawer Revolving Hardware Cabinet
By National Store Fixture Co.
Located in Garnerville, NY
Circa Late Victorian era 98 drawer revolving hardware store cabinet. The spinning octagonal top holds 80 wedge shaped drawers with white porcela...
Category

Late 19th Century American Industrial Antique Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Steel

Art Deco Bauhaus File Cabinet / Drawer Cabinet, 1930
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
File cabinet restored Bauhaus Art Deco around 1930 drawer cabinet Features: Model with three flaps with drawers behind Original handles and label holder Beautiful patina Extra...
Category

20th Century Art Deco Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Asian Hardware
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar cabinet with brass Asian hardware. All original dark had rubbed finish on ribbon mahogany, top will be polished and touched up prior t...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Shiro Kuramata “Progetti Compiuti” 19 Drawer Cabinet for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Miami, FL
This rare 19 drawer cabinet by the renowned Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata is a true masterpiece of contemporary furniture design. Crafted with exquisite a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Italian Space Age Red Plastic Drawer Unit by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini, 1980
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age red plastic drawer unit by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini, 1980s Drawer unit or spiral storage unit, in glossy red plastic, with swivel drawers to change the shape ...
Category

1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Plastic

Cappellini Mid-Century Modern Revolving Cabinet Designed by Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in West Hartford, CT
Architectural masterpiece is the Shiro Kuramata designed revolving cabinet made by Cappellini in the 1970s. The color is magnificent, red and the dra...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Shiro Kuramata, Chest of Drawers Pyramid, Cappelini Spa, Italy
By Cappellini, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Milan, Italy
Chest of drawers on castors. Pyramid-shaped structure in transparent acrylic resin, 17 drawers in black acrylic resin. Designed by Shiro Kuramata and produc...
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Plexiglass

Pyramid BY Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Shiro Kuramata Pyramid edition Cappellini 17 drawers
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Shiro Kuramata Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pyramid BY Shiro Kuramata
Pyramid BY Shiro Kuramata
H 72.04 in W 23.32 in D 27.55 in

Shiro Kuramata commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

Shiro Kuramata commodes and chests of drawers are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Shiro Kuramata commodes and chests of drawers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 3 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original commodes and chests of drawers by Shiro Kuramata were created in the modern style in italy during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider commodes and chests of drawers by sicis, Jaime Tresserra, and Gio Ponti. Prices for Shiro Kuramata commodes and chests of drawers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,400 and can go as high as $60,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,680.

Recently Viewed

View All