Sori Yanagi Seating
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)
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Creator: Sori Yanagi
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 Seating
Materials
Plywood
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 Seating
Materials
Rosewood
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 Seating
Materials
Fiberglass
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 Seating
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 Seating
Materials
Brass
Pair of Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stools
By Tendo Mokko, Sori Yanagi
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 Seating
Materials
Wood
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 Seating
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 Seating
Materials
Teak
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 Seating
Materials
Seagrass, Cherry
Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s
By Sori Yanagi, Kotobuki
Located in Tokyo, JP
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 Seating
Materials
Fiberglass
Sori Yanagi, Early Production "Butterfly" Stools Walnut, Brass, Tendo Mokko 1954
By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko
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 Seating
Materials
Brass
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 Seating
Materials
Fiberglass
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 Seating
Materials
Fiberglass
Related Items
Ingvar Hildingsson Stool Birch produced by IH Slöjd Sweden, ca 1970s
By Ingvar Hildingsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stool designed and made by Ingvar Hildingsson in birch for IH Slöjd in the 1970s.
In good vintage condition with minimal signs from use.
37 cm tall.
Category
1970s European Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Birch
H 14.97 in. W 10.24 in. D 10.24 in.
Rattan Stool in Style of Tony Paul Produced in Denmark, 1960s
By Tony Paul
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stools in beech and rattan in style of Tony Paul. Most likely produced in Denmark since one of the stools has the original purchase tag still attached under neath the seating. I...
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1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Cane, Rattan, Beech
Roland Wilhelmsson Stool / Side Table in Pine Produced in Sweden, 1960s
By Roland Wilhelmsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stool / side table by Roland Wilhelmsson made in the 1960s. In good vintage condition with some signs of use. Signed and dated.
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
H 10.44 in. W 15.16 in. D 15.16 in.
Ingvar Hildingsson Tripod Stool in Solid Pine Produced in Sweden, 1970s
By Ingvar Hildingsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stool in solid pine designed and made by Ingvar Hildingsson himself in the 1970s. In good vintage condition with small signs from age and use. This stool has aged very beautiful...
Category
1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
H 13 in. W 9.45 in. D 9.45 in.
Roland Wilhelmsson Stool Side Table in Pine Produced in Sweden, 1960s
By Roland Wilhelmsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare stool or smaller side table by Roland Wilhelmsson made in the 1960s. In good vintage condition with some signs of use. Signed and dated.
Category
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
H 10.24 in. W 14.97 in. D 14.97 in.
Charlotte Perriand "Berger" Mid-Century Stool Tabouret in Ash, France, 1960s
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and original berger stool / tabouret in ash designed by Charlotte Perriand and produced in the 1960s. In good vintage condition with signs from age and use. Dimensions: Height 2...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Ash
Folke Bensow Bench in Iron & Wood Produced for Näfveqvarns Bruk in Sweden 1920s
By Nafveqvarns Bruk, Folke Bensow
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare bench model "Sneckan" designed by Folke Bensow in 1923 for Näfveqvarns Bruk in Sweden. This bench is most likely produced around that time to the late 1920s. In good and honest ...
Category
1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Iron
H 19.69 in. W 24.02 in. D 18.12 in.
Gunleik Svartdal Desk in Solid Pine Produced in Norway, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare desk in solid pine designed by Gunleik Svartdal and produced in Norway in the 1980s. This desk is in original condition and showing nice patina and character from age and u...
Category
1980s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
Swedish Stool in Pine and Leather, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare Swedish stool in pine with a cognac brown leather seating. Stable and in good vintage condition showing nice patina and small signs from use and age.
Category
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Leather, Pine
Swedish Tripod Stool in Solid Pine, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare tripod stool in solid pine in good vintage and original condition. Stamped "S.G" under the seat.
Category
1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
Swedish Stool Tabouret in Metal and Rattan, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare Swedish stool in metal with a rattan seating. In good vintage condition showing nice patina and small signs from use.
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
Pair of Bertel Gardberg "Sauna" Stools in Pine, Finland, 1960s
By Bertel Gardberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and excellent pair of "sauna" stools by Bertel Gardberg in solid pine. Both stools are in nice condition and showing beautiful patina from use.
Category
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Pine
Previously Available Items
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Phoenix, AZ
A Sori Yanagi butterfly stool for Tendo in bent rosewood and brass. Marked with label.
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
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 Seating
Materials
Brass
Sori Yanagi for Vitra Maple Butterfly Stool
By Sori Yanagi, Vitra
Located in London, GB
Originally designed by Sori Yanagi in 1954, the Butterfly Stool has since become a design icon.
Rooted in the designer’s Japanese aesthetic, the stool was created using the moulde...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra
By Sori Yanagi
Located in San Diego, CA
Red molded Plastic elephant stool by Sori Yanagi, for Vitra.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Plastic
Sori Yanagi Elephant stool, circa 1954
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Paris, FR
An "Elephant stool" by the Japanese designer Sori Yanagi (1915-2011), in white fiberglass, manufactured by Kotobuki Seating Company, Tokyo, Japan, engraved with the editor’s mark and...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Fiberglass
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Japanese Midcentury Architect Design
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Well used 1950s butterfly stool. This stool can still be used, tested by 165 pound person, no yawning, no cracks that go all the way through the plywood anywhere, just veneer losses ...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Walnut and Plywood
By Sori Yanagi
Located in London, GB
Ease of travel in the jet age encouraged a growing fusion of cultural influences after World War II. Although Yanagi's stool was designed and manufactured in Japan, it employs Wester...
Category
1980s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
H 15.16 in. W 16.82 in. D 11.89 in.
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Japanese Design
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Chicago, IL
Butterfly stool designed by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko. In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Rosewood. Unsigned. O...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Rosewood
Sori Yanagi Japanese Designer Midcentury Signed Bent Rosewood Butterfly Stool
By Sori Yanagi
Located in Studio City, CA
A perfect fusion of western function and eastern/ Asian sensibility, the iconic butterfly stool was originally conceived in 1954 by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi. The stool is made f...
Category
20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
H 15.5 in. W 16.75 in. D 12 in.
Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stool for Tendo Mokko, Early Production, Japan
By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko
Located in Tokyo, JP
"Butterfly" stool designed by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi in 1954.
Manufactured by Tendo Mokko.
The sticker on the bottom means this individual was manufactured for the export.
...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Metal
H 16.15 in. W 16.34 in. D 12.21 in.
Pair of Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stools
By Tendo Mokko, Sori Yanagi
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Pair of butterfly stools designed by Sori Yanagi.
Manufactured by Tendo Mokko (Japan) in 1954.
In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving ...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Wood
Sori Yanagi, Early Production "Butterfly" Stool, Walnut, Brass, Tendo Mokko 1954
By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare and early organic "Butterfly" stool, designed in 1954 by Sori Yanagi. Produced by Tendo Mokko, Japan, with original label.
Other designers of the period include Isamu Noguc...
Category
1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Seating
Materials
Brass
H 6.5 in. W 6.11 in. L 6.5 in.
Sori Yanagi seating for sale on 1stDibs
Seats of Sori Yanagi are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive objects are often made of wood and designed with extraordinary care. There are many options in our Sori Yanagi seating collection, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We stock 14 vintage versions of these items, while there is 0 modern edition to choose from as well. Many original seating by Sori Yanagi were created in Japan during the 20th century in the Mid-Century Modern style. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by Junzo Sakakura, Tendo Mokko and Isamu Kenmochi. Prices for Sori Yanagi seating can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. 1stDibs's price starts at $378 and tops out at $7,500, while pieces like these can sell for $2,940 on average.