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.
$15,000
HAL2 Table Shiro Kuramata
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
HAL2 table designed by Shiro Kuramata for Cassina Interdecor in 1988. Unique steel legs and oriented strand board.
Steel
Original Shiro Kuramata Esstisch Memphis Milano Terrazzo Kyoto
By Memphis Milano, Shiro Kuramata
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen und äußerst seltenen Esstisch von Memphis Milano zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt vom japanischen Designer Shiro Kuramata, ist bekannt unter dem Name...
Concrete
Vintage 1980s Postmodern Round Coffee Table Memphis Milano
By Mario Botta, Ettore Sottsass, Shiro Kuramata, Memphis Milano, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Vintage round coffee table featuring the iconic 1985 design by Ettore Sottsass, professionally restored while preserving the integrity and character of the original design. The tabl...
Wood
Memphis Milano Mimosa Table by Ettore Sottsass
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Toronto, ON
With its elementary shapes and delicate pastel colours, Mimosa by Ettore Sottsass seems to have come out of the world of childhood or dreams. This work asks us to free our imaginatio...
Glass, Laminate, Wood
$12,795
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Nara Serving Table, by Shiro Kuramata for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Shiro Kuramata
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...
Concrete
$5,000
H 30.31 in W 23.62 in D 23.62 in
Memphis Table By Shiro Kuramata Sally Glass Chrome Rolling Table, 1987
By Memphis Group, Shiro Kuramata
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 ...
Metal, Chrome
Ettore Sottsass City Dining Table for Memphis Milano, 1983
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass "City" dining table in black and brown spotted laminate with chrome plated steel legs. Very good condition with light scratches seen upon close inspection in raking ...
Steel, Chrome
$7,030 / item
H 39.38 in Dm 18.9 in
Ivory Side Table, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Shiro Kuramata
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Ivory side table has a beautiful contrasting laminate pattern, designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 191...
Glass, Plastic
Large Italian Coffee Table Style of Memphis Milano, 1990s
By Memphis Milano
Located in Paris, IDF
The delicious, rule-breaking elements of postmodern design are evident in this large Italian coffee table in the style of Peter Shire and Me...
Metal
$2,240Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 72 in
Post Modern Luna Dining Table, Oval Dining Table For 6 People
Located in İnegöl, TR
Natural wood veneered on MDF. Dimensions: Lenght: 72" Width: 36" Height: 29" Custom colours are available!
Other
$17,050 / item
H 29.14 in W 84.65 in D 39.38 in
Palm Springs Briar Dining Table by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Palm Springs dining table, in briar and plastic laminate was originally designed in 1984, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano. Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. ...
Wood, Plastic
$9,050 / item
H 29.53 in W 63 in D 33.47 in
Madras Table, by Nathalie du Pasquier, from Memphis Milano
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Group, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Madras table has a beautiful contrasting laminate pattern top, designed in 1986 by Nathalie du Pasquier. Nathalie du Pasquier was born in Bordeaux...
Laminate
$29,160 / item
H 29.14 in W 96.07 in D 56.7 in
Madonna Wooden Table, by Arquitectonica for Memphis Milano Collection
By Memphis Group, Arquitectonica, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Madonna table in lacquered wood, designed in 1984 by Arquitectonica. Memphis is the great cultural phenomenon of the 1980s that revolutionized creative and commercial logics in design. Born from the idea of Ettore Sottsass and a group of young designers and architects, in Milan, coupled in the years by famous designers from the international scene...
Wood
White Oak Worth & Worth Table Slatted
By Ralph Lauren, Figure Ground, Shiro Kuramata, George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This molten grain walnut table spans in magical chamfered edges. Handcrafted in solid oak, a perfect setup for a desk. This was designed for the interior of a storefront gallery space to serve as a desk with two side cabinet...
Oak, Walnut
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.
Steel