"Butterfly" stool, designed 1956 (c.2000 manufactured)
Palisander rosewood veneer with brass rod stretcherexpand_more
Gift of funds from Kathleen Bendelexpand_more 2001.170
Not on Viewexpand_more
Admired for its sculptural silhouette, Sori Yanagi's "Butterfly" stool can be seen as a delicate and harmonious synthesis of Eastern and Western culture. Originally produced and distributed only in Japan, the stool is now available through a Swiss company in both rosewood and maple veneers. The stool resembles a pair of hands touching at the wrists with palms held skywards as though yielding a religious offering. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as symbolizing the release of something, a butterfly for example. Yanagi's father, Saetsu Yanagi, was the leading advocate of the Mingei Movement, which asserted that the true beauty in product design should be found in crafts used by everyone; not made with a self-conscious effort to create beauty, but designed to cater to the needs of everyday life.
Details
- Title
- "Butterfly" stool
- Artist Life
- 1915-2011
- Role
- Designer
- Accession Number
- 2001.170
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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