An artist in every way imaginable, Harry Bertoia was a huge player and pioneer in the Mid-Century Modern movement. His natural inclination for beauty and form was revealed in sculptures, jewelry, monotypes, and our favorite, home furnishings. Simple, yet not at the same time, Harry Bertoia’s designs have found their way into homes around the world. This is a name that once you see once, you can’t forget.
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The Man Himself
In 1915, our primo supremo was born in picturesque San Lorenzo, Italy. At 15, Harry showed some early signs of his gutsy demeanor when he decided to move to the United States for further training in art. He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, which had a special program for talented students in arts and sciences. There, he learned, and later taught, jewelry-making and metal work.
Not surprisingly, Harry Bertoia later received a scholarship to the Cranbook Academy of Art in 1937, where he met other design icons, Florence Knoll, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen. He also met Brigitta Valentiner in 1940, the writer and illustrator who he would eventually marry. Shortly after they wed in 1943, they moved to California. There, Harry Bertoia began to work extensively with the Eames and played a large role in the technical development of the mass production of their molded plywood designs.
Invited by Hans and Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia moved his family to Pennsylvania where he began his collaboration with Knoll, Inc in 1950. After fellow Cranbook-alumnus Florence Knoll saw his work at Cranbook and heard he left Eames, she offered him creative freedom to design whatever he wanted to with full credit and recognition. He designed five of his famous wire pieces, which became known as the Bertoia Collection for Knoll (but more on that later!).
With music on the mind, Harry Bertoia took his metalworking skills to the next level to create his revolutionary tonal sculptures in the 1960s. He used metals, most commonly beryllium copper, to create deep, rich tones. By stretching, bending, and striking the materials, the sculptures would respond to wind and touch to resonate sounds. His Pennsylvania barn was remodeled into a home for over 100 tonal sculptures and a sound recording studio. The result: an out-of-this-world sound environment, which he named Sonambient. In the small space, he would exhibit the sculptures and hold concerts for close friends and family.
Unfortunately, in 1976, Harry Bertoia was diagnosed with cancer. He placed all his energy on perfecting his tonal barn collection and putting his life’s work in order. After his death in 1978, his family carried on his legacy, continuing the barn concert tradition and preserving his memory with the Harry Bartoia foundation.
The Bertoia Collection for Knoll
At Knoll, Harry Bertoia was provided with a space to explore different forms. The only demand? To create something interesting, and to show the world. Of course, Harry Bertoia did not disappoint. He designed five wire chairs, all of which are still in production. Most notably, Harry Bertoia designed the Diamond Chair, which continues to be wildly popular to this day. With a variety of sizes, every member of the family can feel what it’s like to float in the signature Bertoia wire frame. The Diamond Chair was the first of the collection, and other designs quickly followed. His asymmetric chaise was only a prototype until after his passing, when his family helped Knoll to put it into production. It rethinks the traditional image of a chaise, turning it much more abstract and sculptural in the classic Bertoia manner. The Bertoia Bird Chair is a seamless blend of nature-inspired silhouettes with industrial material, with a wide seat and a flat, protruding backrest. For a more versatile piece, Harry Bertoia created the Bertoia Side Chair and Barstool with the same seat design, a very classic armless chair that works as anything from a dining chair to a desk chair.