B A R B I C A N L I F E ADVERTORIAL Bertoia; a study in space, form and metal. H
arry Bertoia was born in 1915 in the very north of Italy, not far from the Austrian border. In his teens he visited is brother
in the USA with his father and decided to stay. He Americanised his first name, Arieto to Harry and settled in Michigan. He was multi talented, practicing art, sculpture, jewellery and printmaking. In 1937 he won a scholarship to the Cranbrook Academy of Arts where he went on to re- establish the metal workshop before following Charles and Ray Eames to California in 1943. In the early 50’s Hans and Florence Knoll tempted him back west by offering to set up a studio for him in their factory so that he could turn his hand to a furniture design. The results were launched in New York in 1952 and proved an immediate success both critically and commercially, vindicating the Knoll’s belief in the integration of art and industry. The Bertoia Collection showed an
unprecedented approach to seating in its interpretation of aesthetics and function. Harry sketched using wire, searching for solutions of “beauty and utility”and giving priority to what he called the “human measure” or what would come to be known as ergonomics. He wanted the chair to be responsive to the user’s needs and said that it should be “almost like wearing a comfortable coat; you really don’t know you have it on”. The innovation of the wire mesh structure was
prototyped with the original collection has not been produced until now. In all cases the pure open form organic shells of polished steel rods can be modified with the addition of upholstery in the form of seat pads or entire covers. There are also white rilsan weather proof versions that can be left outside. Bertoia’s work for Knoll has a prime
position in the lexicon of modern classics and is recognised the world over as truly exceptional. Harry continued as a sculptor and towards the end of his life explored a new direction that combined kinetic sculpture with sound in his “Tonal” and “Sonambient” works. Knoll International celebrates its
outstanding in its combination of strength and elegance, achieving compound curves that would have been unthinkable in other materials. At the same time mass was reduced to the essential minimum so that, as he said, “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them.” Practicality was also very much his concern and he also designed the production moulds for manufacture. The full range that entered
production in the early 1950’s is still made by Knoll today, comprising a bench, a side chair and barstool, the “Diamond” chair and its high back version the “Bird” chair with Ottoman. Recently Knoll introduced the Asymmetric Chaise which though
75th Anniversary this year and the full Bertoia Collection can be seen in its showroom just 7 minutes walk from Barbican Tube at 91 Goswell Road, open 9-5.30 Mon-Fri, late nights and weekends by appointment (0207 236 6655). Sign up for our Newsletter at
uk@knolleurope.com
A lingering embrace. Bertoia Large Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia. Designed exclusively for Knoll in 1952.
91 Goswell Road London EC1V 7EX 7 minutes from Barbican +44 (0)207 236 6655 @Knoll_UK
We are open Mon—Fri
9am—5.30pm
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