Sori Yanagi
Japanese, 1915-2011
Sōri Yanagi was a Japanese product designer. Born in 1915 in Tokyo, Japan. His father was Yanagi Sōetsu, founder of the Japanese folk crafts mingei movement, which celebrated the beauty of everyday objects, and the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum (Nihon Mingeikan). Yanagi entered Tokyo Art School in 1934, where he studied both art and architecture. He played a role in the Japanese modern design developed after the Second World War to the high-growth period in the Japanese economy. Yanagi was both a representative of the wholly Japanese modern designer and a full-blown Modernist, who merged simplicity and practicality with elements of traditional Japanese crafts. He designed the official torch for the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. Yanagi died in 2011 at the age of 96.
(Biography provided by DADA)
Iconic Designs from Sori Yanagi
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Butterfly Stool
Elephant Stool
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Creator: Sori Yanagi
Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s
By Sori Yanagi, Kotobuki
Located in Kawaguchi city, Saitama
Sori Yanagi (1915–2011) Japanese product designer. The Butterfly stool has become one of the most iconic design in his career. He also known as Charlotte Perriand ’s assistant betwe...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Sammushi, JP
Rare butterfly stool designed by Sori Yanagi, manufactured by Tendo in Japan.
It has an oval seal. It is a proof that it is a valuable early work. Comes with a red cushion. It's the...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Teak
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in San Diego, CA
Orange fibreglass elephant stool by Sori Yanagi, which was designed in 1954. Sori was the son of the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum founder, Soetsu Yanagi. Having studied both art and a...
Category
1950s Japanese Organic Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool
By Sori Yanagi
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Sori Yanagi butterfly stool for Tendo in bent rosewood and brass.
Literature: Design since 1945, Hiesinger, pg. 137.
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Rosewood
Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Japanese Designer Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Dronten, NL
A perfect fusion of western function and eastern or Asian sensibility, the iconic butterfly stool was originally conceived in 1954 by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi. The stool is made...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi
Materials
Brass
Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Paris, FR
A butterfly stool, model "S-0521/M", by Sori Yanagi, in wood and patinated brass, manufactured by Tendo Mokko, Japan, with the old editor’s label, model designed in 1954.
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Brass
Elephant stool by Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Paris, FR
An Elephant stool by Sori Yanagi in blue fiberglass, manufactured by Kotobuki Seating Company, Tokyo, Japan, engraved with the editor’s mark and designer’s one under the seat, model ...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Mid-Century Stool in Plywood Produced by Tendo ca 1980s
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and great example of Sori Yanagi iconic "Butterfly" stool in bent plywood produced by Tendo Mokko, Japan ca 1980s. This example was purchased by the previous owner in Tokyo in t...
Category
1980s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Plywood
Sori Yanagi Rare Early Red Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, Japan
By Sori Yanagi, Kotobuki
Located in Maastricht, NL
A rare and early red version fiberglass elephant stool, designed by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki.
It bears its name 'elephant stool' because of the shape resemblances a baby elephant....
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Sori Yanagi Porcelain Tea Pot
By Sori Yanagi
Located in San Diego, CA
Sori Yanagi porcelain and bamboo teapot. Designed in 1956. This version was produced later but doesn't seem to be in production. Signed with the Yanagi logo.
Sori Yanagi was a Ja...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi
Materials
Porcelain, Bamboo
Modernist Japanese Sculpture by Sori Yanagi, Brown Color, Wood
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A puzzle-like wooden sculpture by Sori Yanagi for the publisher Kumiki. It is a sculpture of light brown and dark brown color, in an architectural structure, inside which are placed ...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Wood
Sori Yanagi Oversized Puzzle Sculpture
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Bastrop, TX
This 5-level, oversized wood puzzle sculpture was made by Sori Yanagi (the designer of the famous butterfly and elephant stools). Yanagi designed a limited series of puzzles, so they...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Teak, Wood
Sori Yanagi Elephant stool by Kotobuki, Japan 1954
By Sori Yanagi, Kotobuki
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Elephant stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki Seating Company, Tokyo Japan 1954. Yanagi originally designed the stool as a work chair for his studio, a couple of years later it was rele...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Pair of Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stools
By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko
Located in Riverdale, NY
Pair of period Sori Yanagi butterfly stools sold in original condition. Molded plywood with veener.
Structurally sound, with some discoloration and later varnishing,
1950s, Japan.
Category
1950s Japanese Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Wood
Sori Yanagi, Early Production "Butterfly" Stools Walnut, Brass, Tendo Mokko 1954
By Tendo Mokko, Sori Yanagi
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A set of rare and early organic "Butterfly" stools, designed in 1954 by Sori Yanagi. Produced by Tendo Mokko, Japan. Priced and sold individually.
Other designers of the period incl...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Brass
Rare Japanese Stool by Soetsu Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Brussels, BE
This stool was made for the In 1936, the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum. Made of Japanese cherry wood and seagrass. Today, you can still see the original benches made for this museum.
...
Category
1930s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Seagrass, Cherry
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Paris, FR
An Elephant stool by Sori Yanagi, in black fiberglass, manufactured by Kotobuki Seating Company, Tokyo, Japan, engraved with the editor’s mark and designer’s one under the seat, mode...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Fiberglass
Modernist Japanese Sculpture by Sori Yanagi
By Sori Yanagi
Located in San Diego, CA
Wood puzzle sculpture by Sori Yanagi for Kumiki. Yanagi designed just a few puzzles for the company. Japan, 1960s
Sori was the son of the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum founder, Soetsu...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Wood
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool
By Tendo Mokko, Sori Yanagi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sori Yanagi was born in Tokyo, Japan. He was very influenced by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, whom he translated for when she visited Japan. Yanagi's designs are known for the...
Category
1980s Japanese Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi
Materials
Stainless Steel
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Pierre Jeanneret A-Legs Cane Low Stools, Post-Graduate Institute, Chandigarh
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Category
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H 13.78 in. W 13.78 in. D 13.78 in.
Pierre Guariche Dining Chair for Meurop, 1960s
By Meurop, Pierre Guariche
Located in Kawaguchi city, Saitama
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Upholstery and black painted metal legs.
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Bent plywood.
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Sori Yanagi furniture for sale on 1stDibs
Furniture by Sori Yanagi are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive objects are often made of wood and designed with extraordinary care. In our Sori Yanagi collection, there are many options to choose from, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. In-stock we have 16 vintage editions of these items, while there is also 0 modern edition to choose from. Many original furniture by Sori Yanagi were created in Japan during the 20th century in the Mid-Century Modern style. If you are looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Takeshi Nii, Tendo Mokko and Isamu Kenmochi. The prices for Sori Yanagi furniture can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. 1stDibs's price starts at $350 and tops out at $7,500, while pieces like these can sell for $2,763.
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