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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

$7,865

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

$2,323

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

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Mini Butterfly Stool, Pink Fandango Jacquard, Dark Wood, Europe 1960s
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H 35 in W 22 in D 34 in

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Heron rocking chair and matching footrest / ottoman designed by Mitsuwasa Sugasawa made of bent laminated oak and manufactured by Tendo Mokko Japan. Great example of Japanese mid century design...

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Burgundy Vintage Stool, 1960s
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Burgundy Vintage Stool, 1960s

$297 / item

H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in

Burgundy Vintage Stool, 1960s

Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet burgundy upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characte...

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Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s

Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s

$297 / item

H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in

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Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...

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Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
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$297 / item

H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in

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Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...

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Brutalist bar stool, 1960s
Brutalist bar stool, 1960s

Brutalist bar stool, 1960s

$351

H 31.5 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in

Brutalist bar stool, 1960s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

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Black Ebonized Wabi-Sabi Wood Stool with Butterfly Joints
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$1,012

H 14.18 in W 14.97 in D 14.18 in

Black Ebonized Wabi-Sabi Wood Stool with Butterfly Joints

Located in Benalmadena, ES

This handcrafted ebonized wood stool embodies the Wabi-Sabi philosophy, blending organic minimalism with a strong sculptural presence. Formed from a solid block of wood and finished ...

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Late 20th Century Organic Modern Sori Yanagi Stools

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Antique Japanese Modernist Shopkeepers Stool 1900's
Antique Japanese Modernist Shopkeepers Stool 1900's

Antique Japanese Modernist Shopkeepers Stool 1900's

$800

H 13.5 in W 16.25 in D 10 in

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Located in Oakland, CA

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Mid-Century Japanese Free Form Stool / Stand
Mid-Century Japanese Free Form Stool / Stand

Mid-Century Japanese Free Form Stool / Stand

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Industrial Stool, 1960s
Industrial Stool, 1960s

Industrial Stool, 1960s

Sold|$141 / item

H 19.69 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in

Industrial Stool, 1960s

Located in Kojetice, CZ

Vintage industrial stool. It features a blue iron leg and a solid wooden seat.

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Previously Available Items
Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.
Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

Sold

H 17 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi "Butterfly" Stools . Earliest examples.

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Toronto, Ontario

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 ...

Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Rosewood

Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi
Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi

Rosewood Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi

Sold

H 15.75 in W 16.54 in D 11.82 in

Rosewood Butterfly Stool by 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 Stools

Materials

Brass

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi – Kotobuki - Japon - 1950s
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi – Kotobuki - Japon - 1950s

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi – Kotobuki - Japon - 1950s

Sold

H 12.8 in Dm 17.33 in

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi – Kotobuki - Japon - 1950s

By Kotobuki, Sori Yanagi

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

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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1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

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Fiberglass

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.

Category

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 Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko

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"

Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Brass

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

Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool or Ottoman

Sold

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

Materials

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 Kotobuki, Sori Yanagi

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

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki
Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki

Sold

H 14.57 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in

Elephant Stool by Sori Yanagi for Kotobuki

By Sori Yanagi

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

The Elephant Stool was designed by Sori Yanagi in 1954. This stool, which was released in 1956 with FRP material, which was rare at the time, was used in the pavilion at the 1970 Osa...

Category

1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Fiberglass

Sori Yanagi Model "Butterfly" Stool for Tendo Mokko, Japan, 2000s
Sori Yanagi Model "Butterfly" Stool for Tendo Mokko, Japan, 2000s

Sori Yanagi Model "Butterfly" Stool for Tendo Mokko, Japan, 2000s

Sold

H 15.5 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi Model "Butterfly" Stool for Tendo Mokko, Japan, 2000s

By Sori Yanagi, Tendo Mokko

Located in Skokie, IL

Sori Yanagi model "Butterfly" stool for Tendo Mokko, Japan, 2000s Additional Information: Materials: laminated walnut, brass Dimensions: 15 1/2" H x 17" W x 12" D Condition: Ex...

Category

20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Walnut

Sori Yanagi Vintage Rosewood and Brass Butterfly Stool
Sori Yanagi Vintage Rosewood and Brass Butterfly Stool

Sori Yanagi Vintage Rosewood and Brass Butterfly Stool

Sold

H 17 in W 17 in D 12 in

Sori Yanagi Vintage Rosewood and Brass Butterfly Stool

By Sori Yanagi

Located in North Miami, FL

This iconic and collectable butterfly stool is a work of simple and elegant sculpture by the Japanese designer Sori Yanagi. It is rosewood and brass structure. The combination aesthe...

Category

1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sori Yanagi Stools

Materials

Brass

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.