Legendary Designer Harry Bertoia And The Iconic Bertoia Chairs
Famous for his collection of Bertoia Chairs, Harry Bertoia was born on 10th March 1915 in San Lorenzo, Pordenone, Italy. When he was fifteen years old he travelled to Detroit to see his brother. His decision to remain in the USA, was to be life changing. He attended Cass Technical High School, where he discovered the art of making jewelry. He went on to study at the Art School of Detroit Society of Arts (College of Creative Studies) in 1938. In 1939, he received a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art and it was here that he met Ray and Charles Eames.
His professional life commenced in his workshop teaching metal work and jewelry design. Metal was scarce throughout the war years and it was for this very practical reason that he focused on jewelry making at that time.
He met his wife Brigitta Valentier in the 1940's and they moved to California to work with the Eames'. They worked on a number of projects at the time, including a project with Eerio Saarinen which resulted in a method for creating moulded plywood splints. This project resulted in a process for designing furniture.
Initially the pieces, upholstered to varying degrees over a molded lattice of steel rods, were made manually. Controversy ensued when an action by Herman Miller claimed that the patent for part of the collections design, incorporating two slim wires welded on either side of the mesh seat had been awarded to Eames. Herman Miller won the action and the Bertoia collection was re-designed utilizing a thicker, single wire and grinding down the edge of the seat wire at a smooth angle.
The Diamond Lounge Chair was a commercial success and the Bertoia Chair Collection was born. This collection includes: the Bertoia Diamond Chair, the Bird Chair, the Bertoia Side Chair, the Bertoia Bar Stool and the lesser know Asymmetric Chaise. Bertoia's experimentation with the concept of bending metal rods into functional art pieces, produced a collection of designer chairs which have been recognized by the international design community. His chairs were first made by Knoll in 1952. That they continue production to-day just shows that the designs are truly timeless. In fact, his chairs are a popular feature in a number of upmarket hotels and bars across the world.
The royalties from the sales enabled Harry Bertoia to focus on sculpture. In 1957 he became a fellow at the Graham Foundation in Chicago. During this period, his work focused on the relationship between sound and metal and in particular the sounds created by touching the metal or wind passing through it.
The American Institute of Architects recognised the design genius of Harry Bertoia. His collection of contemporary chairs, designed in the 1950's form an important part of his legacy, thus far immortalising his name.
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