North American Sculptures
29
2
to
31
31
31
31
19
1
29
2
20
9
4
1
8
5
1
Height
to
Width
to
31
10
6
5
5
31
30
132
230
146
94
74
Place of Origin: North American
Creator: Harry Bertoia
Harry Bertoia, Monumental Sonambient Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Harry Bertoia, Monumental Sonambient Sculpture, USA, circa 1970's.
Inconel on brass plate, comprised of 49 rods in a 7 x 7 layout with cattails, unmarked. Measures H: 81, W: 16, D: 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Unique Welded Bronze Sculpture Rare Figurative Form Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 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
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Unique Welded and Patinated Bronze Sculpture by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Atlanta, GA
A unique bronze sculpture displayed on a granite stone base circa 1973 by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), the celebrated Italian-born American artist, sculptor, and designer. The welded a...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Monumental Harry Bertoia Silver Necklace, Bertoia Catalogue Raisonne D.JE.49
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
WEARABLE ART AN IMPORTANT DESIGN FOR A NECKLACE The necklace is unique and extraordinary. Because of its specific design elements it lays beautifully and comfortably on any body structure. This piece comes from a private collection. Provenance will accompany the piece. It has been authenticated by Val Bertoia and is listed in the Harry Bertoia Foundation Catalogue Raisonne # D.JE.49 having been authenticated as a Harry Bertoia piece.
REPLY FROM CHRISTIE'S:
"Dear Charles,
thank you for contacting Christie's. I am absolutely stunned to see the necklace by Harry Bertoia you have submitted for feedback from us, and I would love to speak with you about the work at your earliest convenience.
I am a great fan and a known expert in the work of Harry Bertoia, and I have handled over 600 of his sculptures, jewelry and art over the last 22 years. I have never seen a better piece of his jewelry, and it stands as one of the greatest objects in any category that he made.
Michael Jefferson
Senior Vice President
International Senior Specialist
Design"
The following is from Beverly H. Twitchell, PhD, author of Bertoia: The Metalworker, London: Phaidon, 2019. She provides a very informative critique of Bertoia and his jewelry.
Wearable Art an Important Design for a Necklace
“Before Harry Bertoia enrolled at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1937 he had already mastered traditional jewelers’ techniques, but his engagement with Modernism led him to invent and use more direct methods. Instead of precious metals and gems, Bertoia made jewelry that appealed through its design, craftsmanship and the nature of its materials. That approach would make Bertoia a direct predecessor of the American Studio Crafts movement.
So complex and cumulative are human perception and memory that we often do not know from where our own ideas come and without firm evidence, it is impossible to think we can establish the origins of an artist’s ideas. While his jewelry is entirely modern, chokers with multiple small pendants had come from ancient Mediterranean cultures: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Italy, even from Europe and America at the turn of the last century. Did Bertoia see works in books, journals or at the Detroit Institute of Arts that resonated with him or did he invent this on his own, as he would so many other forms?
Bertoia found inspiration in nature from an early age on a small farm in Italy and later in Cranbrook’s woods, on the beaches of southern California and in the fields near his home in eastern Pennsylvania where he lived after 1950. The fluidity and motion of the his jewelry characterize much of his art. In that spirit, too, he made jewelry that suited human anatomy and was animated by its wearer’s movement. Bertoia had the instincts of an engineer, as the intricacy of the present lot’s clasp and overall construction of the jewelry demonstrates. Large jewelry by Bertoia is very rare. A delight to the eye, and like all of Bertoia’s work it is timeless.
Bertoia had the instincts of an engineer, as the intricacy of the present lot's clasp and the overall construction of this piece demonstrate. Closed, the necklace sits on a table in a surprisingly conical shape, but it is so flexible that it conforms to its wearer from her neck nearly to her shoulders. Each handmade section is riveted to its neighbors, allowing it to adjust to the body while the pendants curve in many directions: one fits the left clavicle so precisely that Bertoia likely tried it on Brigitta Valentiner, who became his wife in 1943. Other pendants face toward or away from each other, bending up or down. Each element has been hammered into multiple curves and worked in Bertoia’s hands. Large jewelry by Bertoia is very rare. A delight to the eye, this necklace no doubt caused a sensation in its day as it might at the 2022 Met Ball in ours, for like all of Harry Bertoia’s work, it is timeless.”
Harry Bertoia (1915 – 1978) was an Italian-born American artist, jewelry creator and modern furniture designer. He was born in San Lorenzo d...
Category
1940s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Sterling Silver
Extremely RareHarry Bertoia Necklace Sterling Silver Lapis Coral ca. 1940
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Extremely rare combination pendant attached to custom-made chain by Harry Bertoia in sterling silver, containing one Lapis Lazuli and one Coral. This piece comes from a private collection. Provenance will accompany the piece. The work has been added to the Harry Bertoia Catalogue Raisonné and assigned the following catalogue raisonné number: D.JE.78.
Although associated with Mid-Century Modern furniture, Harry Bertoia was originally a jewelry designer who used both sterling silver, precious stones and gem stones. The pendant measures: 1.25" long x 1" wide. The necklace measures: 11" length with a measurement of 22" overall length. The chain and closure are all handcrafted and in his unique design. Lapis Lazuli measures 20mm round supported by one 6 mm red coral. Total weight is
33 grams.
The following is from Beverly H. Twitchell, PhD, author of Bertoia: The Metalworker, London: Phaidon, 2019. She provides a very informative critique of Bertoia and his jewelry.
Wearable Art an Important Design for a Necklace
“Before Harry Bertoia enrolled at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1937 he had already mastered traditional jewelers’ techniques, but his engagement with Modernism led him to invent and use more direct methods. Instead of precious metals and gems, Bertoia made jewelry that appealed through its design, craftsmanship and the nature of its materials. That approach would make Bertoia a direct predecessor of the American Studio Crafts movement.
So complex and cumulative are human perception and memory that we often do not know from where our own ideas come and without firm evidence, it is impossible to think we can establish the origins of an artist’s ideas. While his jewelry is entirely modern, chokers with multiple small pendants had come from ancient Mediterranean cultures: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Italy, even from Europe and America at the turn of the last century. Did Bertoia see works in books, journals or at the Detroit Institute of Arts that resonated with him or did he invent this on his own, as he would so many other forms?
Bertoia found inspiration in nature from an early age on a small farm in Italy and later in Cranbrook’s woods, on the beaches of southern California and in the fields near his home in eastern Pennsylvania where he lived after 1950. The fluidity and motion of the his jewelry characterize much of his art. In that spirit, too, he made jewelry that suited human anatomy and was animated by its wearer’s movement. Bertoia had the instincts of an engineer, as the intricacy of the present lot’s clasp and overall construction of the jewelry demonstrates. Large jewelry by Bertoia is very rare. A delight to the eye, and like all of Bertoia’s work it is timeless.”
Harry Bertoia (1915 – 1978) was an Italian-born American artist, jewelry creator and modern furniture designer. He was born in San Lorenzo d-Arzene, Pordenone, Italy. At age 15 he moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with his older brother, Oreste. He quickly learned English and the bus schedule and enrolled in Cass Tech High School in Detroit (1930-1936) where he studied art and design and learned the skill of handmade jewelry making. At that time, there were three jewelry and metals teachers Louise Green...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
Rare Harry Bertoia Sterling Silver Brooch "Ginko Leaves" ca. 1940s
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
An extremely rare Harry Bertoia sterling silver brooch "Ginko Leaves." The brooch has been added to the Harry Bertoia Catalogue Raisonné and assigned the following catalogue raisonné number: D.JE.77. This piece comes from a private collection. Provenance will accompany the piece. The Brooch measures: 2.94 " long x 1.5 " wide x .30 " deep.
Although associated with Mid-Century Modern furniture, Harry Bertoia was originally a jewelry designer who used both sterling silver, precious stones and gem stones. The brooch and closure are all handcrafted and the clasp is his unique design.
The following is from Beverly H. Twitchell, PhD, author of Bertoia: The Metalworker, London: Phaidon, 2019. She provides a very informative critique of Bertoia and his jewelry.
Wearable Art an Important Design for a Necklace
“Before Harry Bertoia enrolled at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1937 he had already mastered traditional jewelers’ techniques, but his engagement with Modernism led him to invent and use more direct methods. Instead of precious metals and gems, Bertoia made jewelry that appealed through its design, craftsmanship and the nature of its materials. That approach would make Bertoia a direct predecessor of the American Studio Crafts movement.
So complex and cumulative are human perception and memory that we often do not know from where our own ideas come and without firm evidence, it is impossible to think we can establish the origins of an artist’s ideas. While his jewelry is entirely modern, chokers with multiple small pendants had come from ancient Mediterranean cultures: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Italy, even from Europe and America at the turn of the last century. Did Bertoia see works in books, journals or at the Detroit Institute of Arts that resonated with him or did he invent this on his own, as he would so many other forms?
Bertoia found inspiration in nature from an early age on a small farm in Italy and later in Cranbrook’s woods, on the beaches of southern California and in the fields near his home in eastern Pennsylvania where he lived after 1950. The fluidity and motion of the his jewelry characterize much of his art. In that spirit, too, he made jewelry that suited human anatomy and was animated by its wearer’s movement. Bertoia had the instincts of an engineer, as the intricacy of the present lot’s clasp and overall construction of the jewelry demonstrates. Large jewelry by Bertoia is very rare. A delight to the eye, and like all of Bertoia’s work it is timeless.”
Harry Bertoia (1915 – 1978) was an Italian-born American artist, jewelry creator and modern furniture designer. He was born in San Lorenzo d-Arzene, Pordenone, Italy. At age 15 he moved to Detroit, Michigan to live with his older brother, Oreste. He quickly learned English and the bus schedule and enrolled in Cass Tech High School in Detroit (1930-1936) where he studied art and design and learned the skill of handmade jewelry making. At that time, there were three jewelry and metals teachers Louise...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Sterling Silver
Harry Bertoia bronze
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
American Mid-century artist Harry Bertoia would spend his daylight hours working on the monumental public projects for which he is so well known. In the evenings though, after dinner...
Category
1970s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Harry Bertoia Gilt Bronze, Brass and Steel Dandelion Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Bertoia's Dandelion form is widely regarded to be the apex of his career. An overwhelming physical presence is balanced by its truly delicate nature. A gilt bronze central sphere is ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brutalist North American Sculptures
Materials
Granite, Brass, Bronze
Brutalist Welded Nails Sculpture by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Abstract Brutalist Nails Sculpture by Harry Bertoia, circa 1950s.
Category
1950s Brutalist Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Harry Bertoia Bush Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located 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
1970s Brutalist Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Wire Sculpture on Pedstal by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Wire 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 Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Harry Bertoia Melt Pressed Bronze Figural Sculpture, 1970s
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
A figurative vertical form with two protrusions on top constructed of melt pressed bronze (heated numerous times, squeezed, and shaped. Includes provenance and hand-signed COA from t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Harry Bertoia Study for Wire Form, Rare / Experimental 1949
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Buffalo, NY
Provenance: 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
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Harry Bertoia Two Column Sonambient Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
An atypical form for Beartoia's (1915-1978) sonambients given it's split in the centre of the rods. A desirable size for display in the home and a typically wonderful sound quality.
Category
1960s Industrial Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Harry Bertoya Multi-Plane Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Multi-plane sculpture by Harry Bertoia made of steel and molten brass.
This was a working model for a large commission installation of ten sculptures ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Steel
Harry Bertoia for Knoll, Model Bird Armchair with Ottoman, 1980
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Buffalo, NY
Design Harry bertoia for Knoll, Model Bird armchair with ottoman, 1980, retains original label.
Harry Bertoia for Knoll. Vogel armchair and ottoman i...
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Harry Bertoia Hanging Willow Chandelier, 1968
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Chicago, IL
Harry Bertoia Hanging Willow chandelier, 1968.
Abundant stainless steel strands reminiscent to a willow tree surround a cylindrical housing with uplighting functions creating a dramatic defusing effect spreading light...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Stainless Steel
Val Bertoia Corner Sound Sculpture, 2008
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Corner Sound Sculpture made in 2008 is part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. It's made of 11 copper tops silvered to monel rods then silvered to a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Copper
Harry Bertoia Bush Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Georges Mills, NH
Rare patinated bronze bush form, circa 1970
Provenance: Mangel Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1970s; Descended in the family.
Category
1970s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Bronze
Harry Bertoia Double Spray Sculpture with COA from Foundation
By Harry Bertoia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Harry Bertoia created numerous bundled wire sculptures from the late 1950s until the mid-1970s.
This example is a large and interesting table-top variation.
Sculpture comes with au...
Category
1960s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Harry Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Harry Bertoia Sonambient sculpture featuring seven black monel "cat-tail" tops silvered to beryllium. Copper rods silvered to brass base. In fin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Copper
Harry Bertoia Bronze Multi-Plane Cube Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine example from this series of work.
The surface of the brass-coated bronze plates show a stunning Patinated irregular surface in rouge reds, gold and
Verdi gris green
Possibl...
Category
1960s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Sonambient Sculpture by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Georges Mills, NH
Rare Harry Bertoia sonambient sculpture. Pair of off-axis bronze rod arrays silver soldered onto a solid bronze base, circa 1967. Sold with a certificate of authenticity by the Hary ...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass, Steel
Harry Bertoia Gold Plated Bronze Diagonal Double Tonal Sonambient Sculpture
By Harry Bertoia
Located in St. Louis, MO
Sculptor and Artist Harry Bertoia gold plated bronze Sonambient sculpture, diagonal double tonal, circa 1965. Two groupings of thin rods at different angles on poured slab of bronze. Purchased from estate of the original owner. Sold with a “Certificate of Authenticity” from the Harry Bertoia foundation, along with a copy of the Knoll letter...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large Willow Sculpture by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Atlanta, GA
Stunning wire sculpture by Harry Bertoia (American, 1915-1978).
Made of stainless steel in free standing form.
Provenance:
Purchased directly from the artist by the current owner in ...
Category
1970s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Stainless Steel
Harry Bertoia "Six Branches" Stainless Steel Sculpture, 1960s
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
"Six branches" sculpture, with stainless steel wires silvered together in two clusters per "branch" onto stems of stainless steel, by Harry Bertoia, American 1960s. This sculpture co...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Stainless Steel
Val Bertoia Double Vertical Spray Sculpture, Steel Wires with Brass Base, 2014
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Double Vertical Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This Kinetic sculpture was made by cutting one grouping of stainless-steel wires that were made by Har...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
Original Harry Bertoia Sculpture "SPRAWLING BRONZE"
By Harry Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
Original "Sprawling Bronze" by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978).
Rare molten bronze spill cast with three feet to make it free-standing. Green patina adds to the organic feel of the sculp...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Sonambient Rods Sculpture by Harry Bertoia
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
A sonambient rods sculpture by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978). A desirable size for display in the home and a typically wonderful sound quality.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern North American Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Harry Bertoia Patinated Silver Brooch with Coral and Ebony, USA 1943
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
An unusual piece of Bertoia's jewelry with a figurative quality. This brooch was included in an exhibit, "In Nature's Embrace: The World of Harry Bertoia" at the Reading Public Museu...
Category
1940s Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Coral, Silver
Harry Bertoia Hand-Forged Silver, Ebony and Silver Wire Pendant, USA 1942
By Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
This early wire wrapped pendant was likely made by Harry Bertoia while he was at Cranbrook.
Category
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage North American Sculptures
Materials
Silver
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Blown Glass Ornaments
Bronze Ritual
F And P Antiques
Italian Giltwood Stand
Jewish Objects
Vienna School Of Arts And Crafts
Seguso Art Glass Signed
Vintage Vicenza
Copper Sun
Mexican Wood Antiques
Root Stand
Cameo Sculpture
Spider Web Furniture
Stone Wheel
Antique Artefacts
Ceramic Head Face
Ceramic Face Head
Pairs Of Antique Wooden Objects