Harry Bertoia Wire Form Sculpture, 1965
View Similar Items
Harry Bertoia Wire Form Sculpture, 1965
About the Item
- Creator:Harry Bertoia (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 57 in (144.78 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1965
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Pawtucket, RI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90991081350
Harry Bertoia
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 mid-century modernism. Among furniture aficionados, Bertoia is known for his chairs such as 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, he 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.
At Cranbrook, 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 the school, 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.
Find vintage Harry Bertoia sculptures, armchairs, benches and other furniture and art on 1stDibs.
- Ceramic Sculpture by Michael CohenBy Michael CohenLocated in Pawtucket, RILarge gold lustre and stoneware ceramic sculpture by Massachusetts potter Michael Cohen. Executed at Herring Run while sharing a studio with William Wyman.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic, Stoneware
- Ceramic Sculpture by Ka Kwong HuiBy Hiu Ka KwongLocated in Pawtucket, RIRare and large ceramic sculpture by Pop ceramicist Ka Kwong Hui. Signed. Hui immigrated to U.S. in 1948. Received a BFA in 1951 and a MFA in 1952 from Al...Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Modernist Wooden Cello CaseLocated in Pawtucket, RIInteresting modernist, cubist handmade wood cello case from the 1900-1920s. Great folk art object with dovetail joinery and replete with old traveling stick...Category
Early 20th Century German Modern Musical Instruments
MaterialsWood
- Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk SecretaryBy Edward WormleyLocated in Pawtucket, RIVery rare desk secretary designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Functional five drawers and letter slots on turned brass knobs and feet. With original Dunb...Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Los Castillo Brass and Copper Candle SconcesBy Los CastilloLocated in Pawtucket, RIA rare pair of Los Castillo candle sconces in copper with swirling inlaid brass design, Taxco, Mexico. Signed.Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsBrass, Copper
- Collection of 20th Century Bronze Modernist Japanese VasesLocated in Pawtucket, RIFantastic collection of Japanese modernist bronzes in varies shapes, sizes and patinas. Some signed.Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsBronze
- Harry Bertoia Bush Form SculptureBy Harry BertoiaLocated in Dallas, TXA large organic bush form with beautiful patina. Masterful work by Harry Bertoia. Sold with a COA from the Bertoia foundation.Category
Vintage 1970s Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Wire Sculpture on Pedstal by Harry BertoiaBy Harry BertoiaLocated in New York, NYWire sculpture on pedestal by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), circa 1950's. Overall dimensions including pedstal: 79.5"H x 16.25"W x 16.5"D Wire sculpture dimensions: Approx. 38"H x 17"...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsWire
- Harry Bertoia Study for Wire Form, Rare / Experimental 1949By Harry BertoiaLocated in Buffalo, NYProvenance: Wright Modernist 20th Century, auction 12/7/2003, Bertoia worked with the Eames' in California in the late 1940s to develop their wire form chairs. His involvement led...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsSteel
- Unique Welded Bronze Sculpture Rare Figurative Form Harry BertoiaBy Harry BertoiaLocated in Atlanta, GAA unique bronze sculpture circa 1960s by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), the celebrated Italian-born American artist, sculptor, and designer. The welded and patinated bronze sculpture is ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Harry Bertoia Bush SculptureBy Harry BertoiaLocated in New York, NY"Untitled" (Bush) Sculpture by Harry Bertoia, circa 1970's made of welded bronze. Harry Bertoia, was an Italian-born American artist, sound art sculptor, an...Category
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
$190,575 - Harry Bertoia Bush SculptureBy Harry BertoiaLocated in Georges Mills, NHRare patinated bronze bush form, circa 1970 Provenance: Mangel Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1970s; Descended in the family.Category
Vintage 1970s American Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsCopper, Bronze
$45,000 / item