Vitra Butterfly Stool

First produced in 1956, the Butterfly Stool is widely regarded as one of the most important furniture designs of the twentieth century. Designed by Sori Yanagi, it brings together traditional Japanese craft values with the innovative moulded plywood techniques developed in the West during the post-war period.

The stool’s pared-back form reflects the influence of the Japanese Mingei movement, which celebrated honest materials and everyday beauty. At the same time, its construction draws a clear line to modern European and American design, particularly the moulded plywood experiments pioneered by Charles and Ray Eames in the late 1940s.

Yanagi reinterpreted the familiar Western stool, introducing softly contoured shapes inspired by Japanese architecture, including the sweeping arches of Shinto shrines, alongside the flowing strokes of Japanese calligraphy. The result is a sculptural seat whose twin curved shells meet at the centre, creating a balanced silhouette that subtly recalls the outstretched wings of a butterfly.

See other Sori Yanagi designs.
See other Stools.
See the Vitra collection.