Design

Mostly gathered by Zeev Aram in 1981 on the occasion of the first exhibition dedicated to the Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata ever organised in Europe, the 19 pieces in this sale come from the personal collection of the London gallerist, where they have remained for more than 30 years. The top lot of this group is the chair entitled ?Homage to Josef Hoffmann, begin the beguine' of which only two unique examples exist, the other being kept in the collection of Issey Miyake. Resulting from a truly artistic happening – Kuramata setting fire to a Josef Hoffmann Thonet bentwood chair wrapped in steel wire – this chair keeps only the silhouette of the original piece of furniture. Several pieces from his series ?furniture with drawers' and the chest of drawers entitled ?Solaris', an homage to the celebrated 1972 science fiction film by Russian director Andreï Tarkovski, will illustrate his obsession for drawers as safekeepers of the subconscious. Finally a chair and a table in glass will close the auction: made with transparent cement which was revolutionary at the time, they show the innovative spirit of Shiro Kuramata.