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Harry Bertoia

American, Italian, 1915-1978

Sculptor, furniture and jewelry designer, graphic artist and metalsmith, Harry Bertoia was one of the great cross-disciplinarians of 20th-century art and design and a central figure in American modernism. Among furniture aficionados he is known for the wire-lattice Diamond chair (and its variants such as the tall-backed Bird chair) designed for Knoll Inc. and first released in 1952. As an artist, Bertoia is revered for a style that was his alone. Bertoia’s metal sculptures are by turns expressive and austere, powerful and subtle, intimate in scale and monumental. All embody a tension between the intricacy and precision of Bertoia’s forms and the raw strength of his materials: steel, brass, bronze and copper.

Fortune seemed to guide Bertoia’s artistic development. Born in northeastern Italy, Bertoia immigrated to the United States at age 15, joining an older brother in Detroit. He studied drawing and metalworking in the gifted student program at Cass Technical High School. Recognition led to awards that culminated, in 1937, in a teaching scholarship to attend the Cranbrook Academy of Art in suburban Bloomfield Hills, one of the great crucibles of modernism in America. There, Bertoia made friendships — with architect Eero Saarinen, designers Charles and Ray Eames and Florence Schust Knoll and others — that shaped the course of his life. He taught metalworking at Cranbrook, and when materials rationing during World War II limited the availability of metals, Bertoia focused on jewelry design. He also experimented with monotype printmaking, and 19 of his earliest efforts were bought by the Guggenheim Museum.

In 1943, he left Cranbrook to work in California with the Eameses, helping them develop their now-famed plywood furniture. (Bertoia received scant credit.) Late in that decade, Florence and Hans Knoll persuaded him to move east and join Knoll Inc. His chairs became, and remain, perennial bestsellers. Royalties allowed Bertoia to devote himself full-time to metal sculpture, a medium he began to explore in earnest in 1947.

By the early 1950s Bertoia was receiving commissions for large-scale works from architects — the first came via Saarinen — as he refined his aesthetic vocabulary into two distinct skeins. One comprises his “sounding sculptures” — gongs and “Sonambient” groupings of rods that strike together and chime when touched by hand or by the wind. The other genre encompasses Bertoia’s naturalistic works: abstract sculptures that suggest bushes, flower petals, leaves, dandelions or sprays of grass. As you will see on these pages, Harry Bertoia was truly unique; his art and designs manifest a wholly singular combination of delicacy and strength.

Average Sold Price
$1,529
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Harry Bertoia
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Diamond Chair
Diamond Chair
Diamond Chair
Diamond Chair
Harry Bertoia Side Chair
Harry Bertoia Side Chair
Bertoia Bird Chair Ottoman
Bertoia Bird Chair Ottoman
Pair of "Diamond Chair" by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Roma, RM
"Diamond chairs" by Harry Bertoia. Bertoia, who came from the collaboration with architect Eero Saarinen and architect-designer Charles Eames at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Mich...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Metal

  • Pair of "Diamond Chair" by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • Pair of "Diamond Chair" by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • Pair of "Diamond Chair" by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • Pair of "Diamond Chair" by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
H 27.56 in. W 35.44 in. D 29.14 in.
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Black Bird Chair
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Debrecen-Pallag, HU
Vintage Black Bird chair designed by Harry Bertoia for Knoll International. Original 1960 version with a newer black leather cover because the origina...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Iron

  • Harry Bertoia for Knoll Black Bird Chair
  • Harry Bertoia for Knoll Black Bird Chair
  • Harry Bertoia for Knoll Black Bird Chair
  • Harry Bertoia for Knoll Black Bird Chair
H 38.98 in. W 37.8 in. D 28.75 in.
Bench by Harry Bertoia for Knoll International, 1970s
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Lasne, BE
Wooden bench with black metal legs. Wear and tear due to time and age of the bench.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Metal

1960's Harry Bertoia Wire Side Chairs for Knoll-Set of Four
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Trenton, NJ
This iconic mid-century design from Harry Bertoia for Knoll furniture features comfortable space saving wire frames with lightly padded seat covers. The matching set of four feature ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harry Bertoia

Materials

Metal

Harry Bertoia Free Form Patinated Bronze Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Whimsical sculpture with green-patina base and blackened twist form by Harry Bertoia. Please inquire about Red Modern's other small sculptures available by Bertoia.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Bronze

Easy Bird Chair in Black Lacquered Metal and Red Fabric by Harry Bertoia, 1950s
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Easy Bird Chair in Black Lacquered Metal and Red Fabric by Harry Bertoia, 1950s Additional Information: Material: Black lacquered metal and original red fabric Style: midcentury...
Category

20th Century American Harry Bertoia

Materials

Metal

Harry Bertoia for Knoll Pair of Outdoor 'Side Chairs' in Black Coated Steel
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Harry Bertoia for Knoll International, pair of 'side chairs', coated steel, United States, design 1952 These 'side' patio chairs are designed by Harry Bertoia in 1952. Executed in...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Steel

"Diamond" Chairs by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Roma, RM
"Diamond chair" by Harry Bertoia. Bertoia, who came from the collaboration with architect Eero Saarinen and architect-designer Charles Eames at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michi...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Harry Bertoia

Materials

Metal

  • "Diamond" Chairs by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • "Diamond" Chairs by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • "Diamond" Chairs by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
  • "Diamond" Chairs by Harry Bertoia 'Set of 2'
H 27.56 in. W 35.44 in. D 29.14 in.
Browse all Furniture from Harry Bertoia
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Harry Bertoia Sellers

Casey Godrie Amsterdam 20th Century Icons & Props
4.7
Barbarella Home
4.8
Highland Park Modern
5.0

Creators Similar to Harry Bertoia

More Harry Bertoia Designs
Diamond Chair
Diamond Chair
Average Price
$2,414
Number Available
31
Diamond Chair
By Harry Bertoia
Materials
Metal, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
To fully understand the design of Harry Bertoia’s (1915–78) 1952 Diamond chair — an austere and photogenic work of woven steel wire, the intricately sculptural wings of which create the illusion of sitting on air — it helps to go back to his college days: In 1937, the Italian-born artist and designer, who emigrated to Detroit at age 15, earned a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art, the illustrious Michigan design school that attracted such luminaries as Florence Knoll, Eero Saarinen and C...
Shop All
Diamond Chair
Diamond Chair
Average Price
$2,414
Number Available
31
Diamond Chair
By Harry Bertoia
Materials
Metal, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
To fully understand the design of Harry Bertoia’s (1915–78) 1952 Diamond chair — an austere and photogenic work of woven steel wire, the intricately sculptural wings of which create the illusion of sitting on air — it helps to go back to his college days: In 1937, the Italian-born artist and designer, who emigrated to Detroit at age 15, earned a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art, the illustrious Michigan design school that attracted such luminaries as Florence Knoll, Eero Saarinen and C...
Shop All
Harry Bertoia Side Chair
Harry Bertoia Side Chair
Average Price
$1,651
Number Available
19
Harry Bertoia Side Chair
By Harry Bertoia
Materials
Metal, Steel, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
When Hans and Florence Knoll invited Italian-American artist Harry Bertoia (1915–78) to move from California to Pennsylvania in 1950 to work with their new design firm, they did not ask him to develop any specific pieces but instead to investigate whatever interested him. That open-ended experimentation led to the 1952 Bertoia Side chair, which was fitted with a fluid metal lattice that gave the seating an ethereal quality. Bertoia considered his collection of chairs created for Knoll Associa...
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Bertoia Bird Chair Ottoman
Bertoia Bird Chair Ottoman
Average Price
$4,140
Number Available
12
Bertoia Bird Chair Ottoman
By Harry Bertoia
Materials
Metal, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Harry Bertoia furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Harry Bertoia furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Harry Bertoia furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 170 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Harry Bertoia were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Warren Platner, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Selig. Prices for Harry Bertoia furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £361 and can go as high as £152,699, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £2,248.
Questions About Harry Bertoia
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Whether or not a Harry Bertoia chair is comfortable really comes down to a matter of personal preference, but there are a lot of positive reviews pertaining to how comfortable the Italian-born American designer’s seating is. Among furniture aficionados he is known for the wire-lattice Diamond chair (and its variants such as the tall-backed Bird chair) designed for Knoll Inc. and first released in 1952. Shop a selection of Bertoia chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

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