Shiro Kuramata Dressers
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.
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Plexiglass
Early 2000s Japanese Post-Modern Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Aluminum
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Aluminum
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Federal Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Walnut, Hardwood
1980s American Georgian Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Wood
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Lacquer
1970s Japanese Vintage Shiro Kuramata Dressers
Oak





