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Sori Yanagi Stools

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.

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Creator: Sori Yanagi
Sori Yanagi Rosewood Butterfly Stool
Sori Yanagi Rosewood Butterfly Stool

Sori Yanagi Rosewood Butterfly Stool

$4,800

Sori Yanagi Rosewood Butterfly Stool

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Turners Falls, MA

Sori Yanagi rosewood butterfly stool. Early and excellent example of this mid century classic. Beautiful book matched Brazilian rosewood seating sections. Brass screws and support s...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Brass

Rare Japanese Stool by Soetsu Yanagi
Rare Japanese Stool by Soetsu Yanagi

Rare Japanese Stool by Soetsu Yanagi

$7,542

Rare Japanese Stool by Soetsu Yanagi

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Uccle, BE

This stool was made in 1936 for the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum. Made of Japanese cherry wood and seagrass. Today, you can still see the original benches made for this museum. Yanagi Soetsu (1889 – 1961), also known as Yanagi Muneyoshi, was a Japanese art critic, philosopher, and founder of the Mingei (folk craft) movement in Japan in the late 1920s and 1930s. His son, Sori Yanagi, was a renowned industrial designer. In 1916, Yanagi made his first trip to Korea out of curiosity about Korean crafts. The trip led to the establishment of the Korean Folk Crafts Museum in 1924 and the coining of the term mingei by Yanagi, potters Hamada Shoji (1894–1978) and Kawai Kanjiro...

Category

1930s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Seagrass, Cherry

Wooden Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stool in Molded Plywood by Tendo Japan, 1980s
Wooden Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stool in Molded Plywood by Tendo Japan, 1980s

Wooden Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stool in Molded Plywood by Tendo Japan, 1980s

$2,228

Wooden Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stool in Molded Plywood by Tendo Japan, 1980s

By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko

Located in Stockholm, SE

Rare and iconic wooden mid century "butterfly" stool in molded plywood by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko Japan, 1980s. In good condition and purchased by the previous owner on a busines...

Category

1980s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Plywood

Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s
Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s

Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s

$5,500

Sori Yanagi White Elephant Stool for Kotobuki, 1960s

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

An iconic mid-century design by Japanese master Sori Yanagi. The Elephant Stool embodies simplicity, functionality, and sculptural beauty. Featuring a distinctive arching silhouette ...

Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Fiberglass

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, Mid-Century Modern, 1990
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, Mid-Century Modern, 1990

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, Mid-Century Modern, 1990

$480Sale Price / item|31% Off

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, Mid-Century Modern, 1990

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Centreville, VA

The Elephant Stool, designed by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, is a playful yet elegantly crafted piece that showcases the harmonious blend of function an...

Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Plastic

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi, Japan, 1980s, simple, wabi-sabi.
Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi, Japan, 1980s, simple, wabi-sabi.

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi, Japan, 1980s, simple, wabi-sabi.

$7,000

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi, Japan, 1980s, simple, wabi-sabi.

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

An iconic “Butterfly” stool by Sori Yanagi, combining Japanese craftsmanship with modernist elegance in a fluid sculptural form.

Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Wood

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1980s
Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1980s

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1980s

$2,285

Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1980s

By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko

Located in AMSTERDAM, NL

A vintage Japanese mid-century modern Butterfly Stool in rosewood-veneered moulded plywood, designed by Sori Yanagi and made by Tendo Mokko in Japan. One of the most recognisable pie...

Category

1980s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Wood, Rosewood, Plywood

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Previously Available Items
Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1960s
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Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Tendo Mokko, 1960s

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H 16 in W 16.25 in D 12.25 in

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Palisander rosewood "Butterfly" stool designed by Sori Yanagi and produced by Tendo Mokko in the 1960s. This lovely vintage example features book matched rosewood, solid brass suppor...

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Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.
Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

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H 17 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

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An incredible example of an iconic Mid 20th Century masterpiece. Designed by Sori Yanagi in the late 1950.s These examples are the earliest examples of this form. As evidenced by ...

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1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

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H 15.75 in W 16.54 in D 11.82 in

Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi

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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...

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Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi – Kotobuki - Japon - 1950s
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H 12.8 in Dm 17.33 in

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An early edition of the iconic Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi, produced by Kotobuki in 1954, featuring its original publisher’s label. Designed in fiberglass—a groundbreaking material...

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Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

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H 13 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

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Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

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H 13 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in Molded Blonde Rosewood for Tendo Mokko

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Located in Chicago, IL

The Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi, (1915 - 2011) an iconic figure in Japanese industrial design. Originally created in 1954 using the moulded plywood technique that had been newly ...

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Early 2000s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Stools

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Rosewood

Butterfly stool by Sori Yanagi
Butterfly stool by Sori Yanagi

Butterfly stool by Sori Yanagi

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H 15.25 in W 16.5 in D 12.25 in

Butterfly stool by Sori Yanagi

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Centreville, VA

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 Weste...

Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Maple

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Rosewood Brass
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Rosewood Brass

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Rosewood Brass

Sold

H 15.25 in W 16.75 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Rosewood Brass

By Sori Yanagi

Located in San Diego, CA

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool in rosewood and brass. Designed in 1954 and produced in the 1990s. Signed, Sori Yanagi.

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1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Rosewood

Sori Yanagi, "Butterfly" Stools, Walnut, Brass, Japan, 1954
Sori Yanagi, "Butterfly" Stools, Walnut, Brass, Japan, 1954

Sori Yanagi, "Butterfly" Stools, Walnut, Brass, Japan, 1954

Sold

H 15.75 in W 16.25 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi, "Butterfly" Stools, Walnut, Brass, Japan, 1954

By Tendo Mokko, Sori Yanagi

Located in High Point, NC

A set of first production walnut "Butterfly" stools, designed in 1954 by Sori Yanagi and produced by Tendo Mokko, Japan, c. 1960s. Unlabeled. Seat height: 15.75"

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1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

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Brass

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool or Ottoman
Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool or Ottoman

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool or Ottoman

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H 15.25 in W 17.25 in D 11.75 in

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool or Ottoman

By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Ottoman designed by Sori Yanagi. The walnut bent plywood frame mirrors one another showcasing a butterfly shape, hence the name. The stool is finished with brass hardware. Dimension...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Stools

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Brass

Sori Yanagi ‘Elephant’ stool for Kotobuki, Japan 1954
Sori Yanagi ‘Elephant’ stool for Kotobuki, Japan 1954

Sori Yanagi ‘Elephant’ stool for Kotobuki, Japan 1954

Sold

H 14.57 in Dm 20.08 in

Sori Yanagi ‘Elephant’ stool for Kotobuki, Japan 1954

By Sori Yanagi, Kotobuki

Located in Rotterdam, ZH

Elephant stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki Seating Company, Tokyo 1954. Yanagi originally designed the stool as a work chair for his studio, a couple of years later it was released b...

Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Fiberglass

Sori Yanagi stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Sori Yanagi stools are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Sori Yanagi stools, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original stools by Sori Yanagi were created in the mid-century modern style in japan during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider stools by Isamu Kenmochi, and Pierre Jeanneret. Prices for Sori Yanagi stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,221 and can go as high as $11,095, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,000.