 Designer:Harry Bertoia
Year:1952.
n 1950, Hans and Florence Knoll set up a studio for Italian-born sculptor Harry Bertoia near East Greenville, Pennsylvania. The Knolls gave Bertoia the creative freedom to develop his artistic concepts without the constraints of a strict design agenda. “His assignment was very open,” recalled Florence Knoll.
Bertoia worked with his own hands, trying variations, never satisfied. “When I get involved with something, there will be a grouping,” he reflected. “You will see them all around.” Through this artistic process, different chair functions emerged—for dining, for sitting or for reading—each finding a distinct natural form.
“Mostly made of air,” was Bertoia’s apt description of his work, and his exploration of bending metal rods into practical art resulted in a collection of formed wire chairs that have become icons of mid-century modern design. Bertoia’s Diamond, Bird, side chair, barstool, bench and the Asymmetric Chaise, which until recently had not been manufactured beyond the prototypical phase, are studies in space, form and function. Their airy, filigree appearance belies their strength and durability.
The Bertoia collection reflects the KnollStudio? commitment to timeless, enduring design, continuing the Knoll legacy of producing furniture to the exacting standards of the designer and affirming our unwavering belief in the power and utility of modern design.
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Design Harry Bertoia, 1952
Welded steel rods, upholstery
Made in USA by Knoll
Harry Bertoia's 1950 experiment with bending metal rods into practical art produced a revered collection of seating, including the exquisite Bird chair. Innovative, comfortable and strikingly handsome, the chair's delicate appearance belies its strength and durability. In Bertoia's own words, "If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them."
Italian sculptor, university lecturer and furniture designer, Harry Bertoia was an inventor of form and an enricher of design. He introduced a new material by turning industrial wire rods into a design icon. Educated at the Detroit School of Arts & Crafts and Cranbrook Academy of Art. Bertoia taught metal crafts at Cranbrook while working with Charles Eames to develop his signature molded plywood chairs. Eero Saarinen commissioned him to design a metal sculptured screen for the General Motors Technical Center in Detroit. His awards include the craftsmanship medal from the American Institute of Architects, as well as AIA’s Gold Medal.
A classic, modern design that enhances any environment, Bertoia's Bird chair remains a fascinating study in bent metal and a fixture of mid-century design. Knoll is the only authorized and licensed manufacturer of the Bertoia Collection which has been in continuous production since 1952.
chair: 38.5" w | 33" d | 40.25" h | seat: 14.5" h
ottoman: 23.5" w | 17.25" d | 14.5" h |
