Harry Bertoia And His Famous Collection Of Chairs

Renowned for his collection of Bertoia Chairs, Harry Bertoia started his life on 10th March 1915 in San Lorenzo, Pordenone, Italy. At the age of fifteen he visited his brother in Detroit and made a decision to remain in the USA. He found an interest for making jewelry, when he attended Cass Technical High School. In 1938, Bertoia continued his studies at the Art School of Detroit Society of Arts. In 1939, he received a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art and it was here that he met Ray and Charles Eames.

Upon completing his studies, Bertoia started to teach metal work and jewelry design from his workshop. Due to the shortage of metal throughout the war years he concentrated more on jewelry making during this period.

He married Brigitta Valentiner in 1943 and moved to California to work with Charles and Ray Eames. Amongst other initiatives at that time, they started experimenting with moulded plywood and along with Eerio Saarinen they developed a technique for producing moulded plywood splints that would later develop into processes for designing furniture.

The pieces were upholstered, at first, and molded over lattice steel rods and were produced manually. Controversy ensued when an action by Herman Miller maintained that the patent for part of the collections design, incorporating two slim wires welded on either side of the mesh seat had been awarded to Eames. Bertoia redesigned his collection using a single heavy wire when Herman Miller won the case.

The Diamond Lounge Chair was a commercial success and the Bertoia Chair Collection came to be. This collection includes: the Bertoia Diamond Chair, the Bird Chair, the Bertoia Side Chair, the Bertoia Bar Stool and the lesser know Asymmetric Chaise. Bertoia's goal of producing functional art pieces by bending metal rods, led to a collection of designer chairs that have achieved iconic status and much praise from the global design fraternity. His chairs were initially manufactured by Knoll in 1952 and it is testimony to his work that they are still in production to-day. In fact, his chairs are a popular feature in a number of upmarket hotels and bars across the globe.

made it possible for Harry Bertoia to focus on sculpture. He became a fellow at the Graham Foundation in Chicago in 1957. His work explored the connection between metal and the sounds resulting from its touch or wind moving through the metal sculpture.

The American Institute of Architects recognised the design genius of Harry Bertoia. Harry Bertoia's name continues to be immortalised, by his collection of chairs. Designed in the 1950's they are a legacy that will live on for many years to come.

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