The sculptor and painter Pedro Friedeberg worked in a richly detailed, Surrealist and eccentric artistic style that blended influences from neoclassical art, M.C. Escher and native Mesoamerican symbolism. He was best known for his Hand chair — a functional sculpture that is an icon of design-as-art.
Friedeberg was born in Florence to German parents and moved with his mother to Mexico at the outset of World War II. As a university student in Mexico City in the 1950s, he initially studied architecture, but his designs for fantastical buildings ran afoul of his rationalist, Bauhaus-oriented teachers.
By chance, Friedeberg’s drawings came to the attention of Mathias Goeritz, the German-born Dadaist painter and sculptor. He encouraged Friedeberg and made him a protégé. Friedeberg credits his mentor for instilling in him a fanatical attention to detail in his work. Friedeberg produced his first Hand chair in 1961, and has since created numerous iterations. He has also made several variants using other human limbs in different functional forms such as tables and clocks.
While Friedeberg’s sculptures have a gentle character that is sometimes described as spiritual, his paintings and prints are something entirely different. He employs deep perspective to create hypnotic, painstakingly rendered canvases that suggest rooms and cityscapes.
Whatever the medium, Friedeberg’s work is arresting and instantly recognizable. The Hand chair, though familiar, remains a captivating piece — both furniture and artwork — that stands apart in any interior. Examples are often priced between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on formal variations (such as a foot-shaped pedestal), material and condition. Smaller functional items such as tabletop clocks bring about $9,000. His paintings and drawings require space; they are meant to be contemplated. Prices on original examples start at about $30,000; prints generally sell in the region of $900.
As you will see on 1stDibs, the art and design of Pedro Friedeberg is singular and memorable.
Pedro Friedeberg - Limited Edition Artist Hand-knotted Wool and Silk Rug 6' x 4'
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Miami, FL
Pedro Friedeberg is a legendary Mexican artist known for his fantastical, surrealist creations that blend architecture, design, and intricate patterns. His most iconic work, the Hand...
Wool, Silk
$8,165 / item
W 96.07 in L 120.08 in
Djoharian Design Striped Wool Silk Rug Modern Contemporary Art Hand Knotted
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A beautiful contemporary modern design rug, hand knotted using finest wool bamboo silk in 10 x 8 ft / 305 x 244 cm. By Djoharian Design. Striped des...
Wool, Silk
$3,538 / item
W 35.44 in L 70.87 in
Tibetan Tiger Rug Hand Knotted Wool Rust Silk Graphite by Djoharian Collection
By djoharian-design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A Tibetan Tiger rug, hand knotted in Nepal, 2/3 silk and 1/3 wool pile. => If you are unsure about the colors: We have sample pieces of this rug available - please contact us regard...
Wool, Silk
$22,426
W 67.72 in L 94.49 in
Carpet Campana Brothers Limited Ed Hand Knot 100Kn Wool, Banana Silk Bamboo Silk
By Campana Brothers
Located in Milan, IT
Boasting a unique silhouette and superb use of colors, this rug designed by Campana Brothers in 2017 is a magnificent addition to a modern or eclectic interior. Part of a limited edi...
Wool, Silk
$9,706
W 78.75 in L 118.12 in
Tibetan Tiger Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Gold Blue by Djoharian Collection
By djoharian-design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A Tibetan Tiger rug, hand knotted in Nepal, silk and wool pile. This traditional Tiger rug design is typically found on antique rugs called Khaden. It describes a small sized rug of...
Wool, Silk
$6,617Sale Price|20% Off
W 66.93 in L 94.49 in
Green field Tibetan Snow Leopard Modern Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Fine Art
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Green field Tibetan Snow Leopard Modern Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Fine Art A beautiful contemporary design carpet, made to order, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry sil...
Wool, Silk
$195
W 12.01 in L 12.01 in
Tibetan Tiger Rug Hand Knotted Wool Rust Silk Graphite by Djoharian Collection
By djoharian-design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A Tibetan Tiger rug, hand knotted in Nepal, 2/3 silk and 1/3 wool pile. => This is a sample rug! This particular rug is very fine in knotting and quality. Our collection of Tibeta...
Wool, Silk
$15,253 / item
W 74.81 in L 114.18 in
La Lomita carpet, Hand Knotted, 200knots, Wool and Silk, Liliana Ovalle
Located in Milan, Lombardy
This rug is made of wool and silk. A very rich carpet that represents the succession of houses in the suburbs of Mexico City. From year to year these houses are painted with the avai...
Wool
$4,437 / item
W 55.12 in L 78.75 in
Tibetan Tiger Rug Wool and Silk Hand Knotted Gold Blue by Djoharian Collection
By djoharian-design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A Tibetan Tiger rug, hand knotted in Nepal, silk and wool pile. This traditional Tiger rug design is typically found on antique rugs called Khaden. It describes a small sized rug of...
Wool, Silk
$2,076Sale Price|20% Off
W 35.44 in L 70.87 in
Tibetan Tiger Rug Wool and Silk Hand Knotted Gold Blue by Djoharian Collection
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A Tibetan Tiger rug, hand knotted in Nepal. This traditional Tiger rug design is typically found on antique rugs called Khaden. It describes a small sized rug of about 3 x 6 ft that...
Wool, Silk
$5,076
W 66.93 in L 94.49 in
Red Contemporary Design Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Djoharian Collection
By djoharian-design
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Contemporary Design rug hand knotted wool and silk by Djoharian Collection. A stunning modern rug red. Modern rug of fine quality. Design: 20 Dots Collection: Naturals by Djoharian ...
Wool, Silk
$14,792 / item
W 98.43 in L 118.12 in
Contemporary Rug Heriz Splashed Hand Knotted Modern Design Wool and Silk
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A beautiful contemporary modernized Persian design hand knotted using finest wool and silk in 8 x 10 ft By Djoharian Design. Modern desiger rug in style of a Persian Heriz in a new...
Wool, Silk
Russia Carpet, Limited Edition Hand Knotted in Wool, 200 Kpi, Studio Job
By Studio Job (Job Smeets & Nynke Tynagel)
Located in Milan, Lombardy
From 2013 collection, Studio Job celebrated the Russian culture with a carpet full of classical Russian ornaments. Russia is hand knotted carpet in ...
Wool