Sam Randlett – a true Founding Father
[image error]Sam Randlett has become an almost mythical figure in the world of origami over the years. Born in 1930 he wrote The Art of Origami at the age of 30. His first wife Jean illustrated the book and (in 1963) the other half of this classic pair, The Best of Origami.
Apart from these two seminal books, Randlett's most significant contribution to origami was a collaboration with Robert Harbin to produce a comprehensive system of symbols and terminology (including the preliminary fold, waterbomb base, blintz base, fish base, bird base and frog base) which are still the de-facto set today. These were used in his books (which every serious paper-folder should have in their collection, IMHO) and in almost all Wstern books since then. He edited the origami newsletter called The Flapping Bird from 1969 to 1976, but since then has kept a remarkably low profile in the ori-world.
I've had a couple of brief (written) encounters with him over the years, asking for permission to publish his work. He once sent me an unpublished Jack Skillman design for use in a BOS convention pack ("Table salt" in the Autumn 1986 collection). He explained that he'd found this model in Skillman's apartment shortly after his death. This wouldn't mean much to today's young turks, but I was seriously impressed – it was like a window into the early days of origami.
Biographical detail is hard to find, but it appears Sam still teaches piano (music being the other love of his life). There's a fascinating article written by Jean-Claude Lejeune.
Here's a list of his published models extracted from the wonderful origami database.
African Mask
Art of Origami
Angel fish
Art of Origami
Binary star
Flapping Bird
Blintz Birdbase
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Blue Whale
Art of Origami
Boston Terrier
Art of Origami
Brontosaurus
Art of Origami
Bull
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Bull mask
Flapping Bird
Butterfly
Art of Origami
Caliz
Pajarita 50
Camel
Art of Origami
Card
Flapping Bird
Chalice
BOS Magazine 81 April 1980
Christmas Ornaments
Art of Origami
Dachsund
Art of Origami
Dog Variation
Art of Origami
Dove
FOCA Origami Convention 1982
Duck
Art of Origami
Fish
Teach Yourself Origami
Flapping Bird
Origami in Action
Flower
Art of Origami
Golden Eagle
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Goldfish
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Goldfish – veil tail
Flapping Bird
Goose
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Grasshopper
Art of Origami
Green Pepper
Art of Origami
Hooded Cobra
Art of Origami
Knot Bat
Art of Origami
Leaf
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Longhorn Bull
Art of Origami
Moth
Art of Origami
Mouse
Art of Origami
Necktie
Folding Money II
New Flapping Bird
Art of Origami
Ornament
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Owl and the Pussycat
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Parrot
Art of Origami
Pelican
Art of Origami
Pheasant
Art of Origami
Polar Bear
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Polar bear Cub
Art of Origami
Presentation Box
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Purse
Flapping Bird
Rabbit
Art of Origami
Rabbit with cottontail
Art of Origami
Randlett's flapping bird
Story-gami
Red Pepper
Art of Origami
Reversible Fish
Art of Origami
Rooster
Art of Origami
Sea Turtle
Art of Origami
Shorthorn Bull
Art of Origami
Shrimp
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Small Bill
Folding Money II
Snapping Wolf
Art of Origami
Song Bird
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Springer Spaniel
Art of Origami
Star
Complete Notebooks of Neal Elias
Stegosaurus
Art of Origami
Trojan Horse
Art of Origami
Turtle
Art of Origami
Vampire Bat
Art of Origami
Veil-Tailed Goldfish
Paper #086
Waterbomb
Art of Origami
