BIOGRAPHY
Sori Yanagi (1915-2011) was born and studied in Tokyo. He worked from 1940 to 1942 in the office of the designer Charlotte Perriand. But he found most fame when be founded the Yanagi Industrial Design Institute in 1952.

In addition to creating some instantly recognisable furniture icons, Yanagi created a prolific number of industrial designs including lighting, glass objects, cutlery, children’s toys, metro stations, cars and motorcycles.

Sori Yanagi’s organic forms combine western industrial designs with Japan’s native artisanal traditions. This successful synthesis made Sori Yanagi one of the most significant Japanese designers of the post-war era.

In 1977, Sori Yanagi was named director of the Japanese Folk Art Museum in Tokyo. He died in Tokyo in 2011.

PRODUCTS BY Sori Yanagi

Butterfly Stool, 1954

Elephant Stool, 1954