Designer:  Shiro Kuramata (1934 – 1991)

Item: Volume Spice Set

Manufactured by: Sointu

Country of origin: Japan

Year made:  1980

Materials:  Polished Chrome Aluminum

Dimensions: 3” x 2 ¼” x 2 ¼”  packing box is 4” x 3 ¼” x 3”

Description:  Here is a rarely found, mint in its original retailing packing box, Volume Spice Set by important modernist designer Shiro Kuramata. Kuramata is considered by many to be one of, if not the most important, Japanese modern designer of the twentieth century.  Some of his designs are icons of modern design that can be found in just about every major museum collection in the world.  He was invited to design several works for the Memphis Design Group based on an invitation from Memphis’s founder Ettore Sottsass.  Kuramata won many awards for his designs in his lifetime, especially his Glass Chair made with laminated slabs of glass, his High High the Moon Armchair made of wire mesh steel and his Furniture in an Irregular Forms Side 1 wavy formed dresser.  This spice set can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and others.  They were produced in this highly polished chrome finish and an mat anodized black finish.

Unsigned as originally issued.  Although these have recently been available as a reissue by Kuramata Design Office and marketed by Rakuten Global Market, the reissued production is marked on the bottom with his signature, and they are still expensive.  Examples from the original production are difficult to find and it appears they were probably only produced in very limited numbers.  This example was purchased from the well known New York City boutique store Dot Zero which handled a curated line of eclectic and modern designs, including home accessories.  This example is worthy of any public collection.

Condition: Mint in its original box from the retailer Dot Zero in New York City. 

References: Sudjic, Deyan, SHIRO KURAMATA (a monograph), Phaidon, 2013; SHIRO KURAMATA 1934-1991, exh. cat., Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, TOKYO, 1996, p. 158.