Sori Yanagi Elephant stool - Vitra

Vitra re-issue of Sori Yanagi's Elephant stool, one of the most famous examples of Japanese post-war design. The stool was initially designed in 1954 as a chair for Yanagi's own work studio. It was commercially released by Japanese furniture manufacturer Kotobuki in 1956, once they had established the technology to mass produce GRP. By utilising GRP's strength and rigidity, Yanagi was able to achieve the stability he required for this sculptural, curved-leg design. In 1960, it won the gold medal at the 12th Triennale di Milano, in a display showcasing Japanese plastics manufacturing and mass production capability. Production ceased in the late 1970s although the company continued to make stools to order. Habitat (see AIBDC : 008547) licensed the design to re-release the stool in GRP with a small, rubber cushion added underneath the seat to protect the furniture when stacked, but quality issues caused production to end after only a few years. In 2004, it was re-engineered by Vitra, alongside Yanagi who was 88 years old at the time, to create a model in polypropylene that was still faithful to the original design. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the dyed-through PP material includes additives to prevent colour fading due to UV exposure.

moulded: "Yanagi's logo - Y. Designed by Sori Yanagi. Vitra Design Museum." (underneath seat)

AIBDC : 008546