Set of 2 Chairs by Harry Bertoia for Knoll Ready for Upholstery, USA, c. 1960s
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare and limited set of two "Diamond" chairs designed by the influential Harry Bertoia for Knoll. First designed in 1952 for Knoll, the diamond chair was by far Bertoia's most famous and recognized design and formed part of his 5-piece wire-made body of work for Knoll called the "Bertoia Collection". The Diamond chair is characterized by a fluid, sculptural form made from a welded lattice work of steel. In Bertoia's own words, "If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like (a) sculpture. Space passes right through them." The chairs were produced with varying degrees of upholstery over their light grid-work, and they were handmade at first because a suitable mass production process could not be found and that's exactly how the upholstery can be re-done for these chairs - by hand. Featuring new automotive-grade, single-stage polyurethane paint, this expansive set is ready for re-upholstery a fabric of your choosing.
Harry Bertoia was an Italian-born welder, sculpture and designer who after moving to the US in 1930, began studying design at Cranbrook Academy of Art where he met and befriended the likes of Ray Eames and Florence Knoll. In 1950 he began working for Knoll creating, among others, the now iconic "Diamond Chair" and the "Bird Chair". His work has been internationally recognized for it's forward-thinking approach and it's literal bending of both metal and rules set for Modern design and his work is on permanent display across the globe in such museums as France's Musée National d'Art Moderne.
Knoll, now MillerKnoll, Inc., is an American company founded in 1938 that manufactures office systems, seating, storage systems, tables, desks, textiles, and accessories for the home, office, and higher education. The company is the licensed manufacturer of furniture designed by architects and designers such as Harry Bertoia, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Florence Knoll, Frank Gehry, Charles Gwathmey, Maya Lin, Marcel Breuer, Eero Saarinen, and Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Over 40 Knoll designs, including the "Diamond Chair", can be found in the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
With their iconic warped-screen frames and famous comfort this set of "Diamond Chairs" is ideal for collectors and designers alike searching for a set of authentic, vintage Bertoia...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harry Bertoia Seating