Italian artist and furniture designer, Harry Bertoia, was thirty-seven years old when he designed the patented Diamond chair for Knoll in 1952. An unusually beautiful piece of furniture, it was strong yet delicate in appearance, and an immediate commercial success in spite of being made almost entirely by hand. With the Diamond chair, Bertoia created an icon of modern design and introduced a new material, industrial wire mesh to the world of furniture design.
Bertoia's career began in the 1930.s as a student at the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he re-established the metal-working studio and, as head of that department, taught from 1939 until 1943 when it was closed due to wartime restrictions on materials. During the war, Bertoia moved to Venice, California, and worked with Charles and Ray Eames at the Evans Products Company, developing new techniques for molding plywood.
1946 was a pivotal year for Bertoia. He became an American citizen, moved to Bally, Pennsylvania, near the Knoll factory and established his own design and sculpting studio where he produced numerous successful designs for Knoll. As a sculptor, Bertoia created abstract freestanding metal works, some of which resonated with sound when touched or had moving elements that chimed in the wind.
As a furniture designer, Bertoia is best known for the Diamond chair and the Bird chair, a high-backed model developed from the Diamond chair that looks like a bird with spread wings. Its organic, human-friendly form helped to create a new look for modernism. Bertoia received awards from the American Institute of Architects in 1973 and the American Academy of Letters in 1975. All of his work bears the hallmarks of a highly skilled and imaginative sculptor, as well as an inventive designer, deeply engaged with the relationship between form and space.
In the 1950's, Harry Bertoia began experimenting with bending metal rods into practical art. This resulted in his now infamous seating collection, including his wire side chair. The Bertoia Side Chair is a high quality reproduction of Bertoia's original designed in 1952, offered at a price that makes it an affordable addition to your home.
One of the most intriguing things about the Bertoia Side Chair is the disparity between its delicate, airy appearance and its actual strength and remarkable durability. This statuesque chair will also surprise you with its comfort. The Bertoia Side Chair makes an excellent addition to any room of your home, with a timeless look that has already proven to have remarkable staying power.
The Bertoia Side Chair enables you to customize your own version of this modern classic. Choose from a powder coated or polished stainless steel frame. Its seat can be upholstered in your choice of fabric or leather, with a variety of great styles and colors available in each.
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