DESIGNERS ALPHABETICALLY B: HARRY BERTOIA

This week I am focusing on Italian born Harry Bertoia (1915-1978) A designer who excelled in many forms: jewelry, furniture, and my favorite, sculpture.

His start in design began at the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he met Eliel Saarinen. Saarinen asked Harry to re-open the Metal Dept. Because of an ongoing war and the scarcity of metal, Harry was limited to designing jewelry.

Bertoia Necklace http://www.cranbrookart.edu/museum/CAMec2.html

In 1950 Harry moved to PA at the invitation of Hans and Florence Knoll, of Knoll Inc. It was there he developed the now infamous "Diamond Chair" series

Bird Chair 1st Dibs

Diamond Chairs and Schultz Table  via Knoll.com

Harry Bertoia created many fabulous sculptures including the Dandelion series, and the Sonambient or Tonal sculptures.

1960 Dandelion  Sothebys

 Sonambient sculpture

He did many public works. The guy was just one talented genius.

Yale University

MIT Chapel