Playful inspiration from the animal kingdom meets utilitarian elegance in Sori Yanagi’s stool. In profile, the three-legged form resembles an abstract elephant—a nod to the strength of the sturdy, stackable design. Available in black or cream, they can be used as indoor accents, on a patio or garden, or as easily portable picnic stools. This stool is included in MoMA’s collection as a prime example of postwar Japanese design. Made in Germany by Vitra, a manufacturer of iconic modern furnishings that’s widely represented in the Museum’s collection.

Born and educated in Tokyo, Sori Yanagi worked from 1940 to 1942 in the office of the designer Charlotte Perriand. In 1952, he founded the Yanagi Industrial Design Institute, which created a prolific range of housewares and furnishings. In addition to furniture, he also designed lighting, glass objects, cutlery, toys, metro stations, cars, and motorcycles. Yanagi’s organic forms combine Western industrial designs with Japan’s native artisanal traditions. This synthesis made him one of the most significant Japanese designers of the postwar era. Five examples of his work are included in MoMA’s collection.