Nikko Cabinet by Shiro Kurumata for Memphis Milano

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Nikko Cabinet by Shiro Kurumata for Memphis Milano

About the Item

This is the prototype and first Nikko cabinet, of which only eleven were made. A stunning design in wood and lacquered metal, with an iridescent pink column and three drawers. These unique cabinets were designed by Shiro Kurumata, who became a member of the Memphis Milano movement at its conception in 1981. Kurumata was admired for the way he freed his designs from gravity and used materials in unconvential ways. He was inspired by Italian designers as well as American conceptual artists. Most evident in his work was his enthusiasm for American 1950s sci-fi films, with pieces like the Nikko cabinet reminscent of the interior of a spaceship. The Memphis Group, or Memphis Milano, was founded in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass. Like any movement, it was a reaction against the status quo and its designers and architects embraced bright colors and bold design. Whilst it wasn't a hit commercially, the Memphis Group attracted a cult following with Karl Lagerfeld and David Bowie among its biggest fans. Indeed, Lagerfeld was so impressed that he purchased the entirety of Sottsass's first collection. The Nikko cabinet came over to London from Milan to be exhibited in the show of Memphis, which was organized by Stephen Bailey at the Boiler House wing of the V&A. The Boiler House was the forerunner to the Design Museum in Shad Thames, which was financed by Terrence Conran. After the Boiler House show, the Memphis exhibition went to Scotland where it was exhibited in a show organized by the Scottish Arts Council. Finally, it was taken back to London to Liberty's, where it was acquired by the current owner, Richard Stewart-Liberty, who helped to organize the show. A letter outlining the above information and signed by the owner accompanies the piece. This cabinet is a very fine example of Postmodern design.

Creator:
Shiro Kuramata (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 22.25 in (56.5 cm)Width: 22.25 in (56.5 cm)Depth: 67.72 in (172 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Lacquer
Place of Origin:
Europe
Period:
1980-1989
Date of Manufacture:
1981
Condition:
Minor fading.
Seller Location:
Gloucestershire, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: CC57132751stDibs: LU961422128742