Famous for his collection of Bertoia Chairs, Harry Bertoia started his life on 10th March 1915 in San Lorenzo, Pordenone, Italy. When he was fifteen years old he travelled to Detroit to visit his brother. His decision to stay in the USA, was to be life changing. He found an interest for jewelry making, when he attended Cass Technical High School. He went on to study at the Art School of Detroit Society of Arts (College of Creative Studies) in 1938. In 1939, he won a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art and it was here that he met Ray and Charles Eames.
His professional life began in his workshop teaching metal work and jewelry design. Due to the shortage 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 initiatives at that time, they began experimenting with moulded plywood and in conjunction with Eerio Saarinen they developed a method for making moulded plywood splints that would later develop into processes for designing furniture.
The pieces were upholstered, in the beginning, and molded over lattice steel rods and were produced manually. There was some controversy, with Herman Miller taking an action which claimed that the patent for incorporating two thin wires welded on both sides of a mesh seat, was granted to Eames. Bertoia redesigned his collection using a single thick wire when Herman Miller won the case.
The Diamond Lounge Chair was a commercial success and the Bertoia Chair Collection was created. This collection includes: the Bertoia Diamond Chair, the Bird Chair, the Bertoia Side Chair, the Bar Stool and the lesser know Asymmetric Chaise. Bertoia's ambition of producing functional art pieces by bending metal rods, resulted in a collection of designer chairs that have achieved iconic status and much praise from the global design fraternity. His chairs were first produced by Knoll in 1952 and it is testimony to his work that they are still in production to-day. He became a fellow at the Graham Foundation in Chicago in 1957. 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 modern chairs, designed in the 1950's form an important part of his legacy, so far immortalising his name.
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