Harry Bertoia: The Immortal Design Genius
Renowned 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 went to Detroit to visit 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. He won a scholarship to attend the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1939. This is where he met Ray and Charles Eames for the first time.
Upon finishing his studies, Bertoia began to teach metal work and jewelry design from his workshop. Due to the scarcity of metal during the war years he focused more on jewelry making during this period.
He met his wife Brigitta Valentier in the 1940's and they moved to California to work with the Eames'. Amongst other endeavours at that time, they started experimenting with moulded plywood and together with Eerio Saarinen they developed a method for making moulded plywood splints that would later evolve into processes 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 thin wires welded on either side of the mesh seat had been granted 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 Bar Stool and the Asymmetric Chaise. Bertoia's experimentation with the idea of bending metal rods into functional art pieces, produced a collection of designer chairs that have been praised by the international design community. His chairs were first produced by Knoll in 1952 and it is testimony to his work that they are still in production to-day. 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. His work explored the relationship between metal and the sounds resulting from its touch or wind passing through the metal sculpture.
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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