Bertoia Side Chair with Seat Pad

Description from Design Within Reach

With his iconic seating collection, Harry Bertoia transformed industrial wire rods into a new furniture form. The events that made this work possible began a decade earlier at Cranbrook Academy of Art when Bertoia met Florence Knoll Bassett (then Florence Schust). Years later, the Italian-born designer was invited to work for Florence and her husband Hans Knoll. Bertoia was given the freedom to work on whatever suited him, without being held to a strict design agenda, and the result of this arrangement was the Bertoia Seating Collection (1952). Featuring a delicate filigreed appearance that’s supremely strong, these airy seats are sculpted out of steel rods. In his art, Bertoia experimented with open forms and metal work, and these chairs were an extension of that work. “If you look at the chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture,” said Bertoia. “Space passes through them.” After designing his seating collection, Bertoia returned to focusing mostly on sculpture. His work was often used in projects by Eero Saarinen (another Cranbrook friend), notably at MIT and the Dulles International Airport. Manufactured by Knoll according to the original and exacting specifications of the designer. Made in Italy.

• The White, Black and Green frames can be used outdoors with limited exposure to the elements.
• Vinyl seat pads can be used outdoors and are secured to the chair with domed metal lock snaps and have fabric edges.
• The Knoll logo is stamped into the base of the Chair.
• Get it fast: Chrome frame with Vinyl Carrot or White; White frame with Vinyl Black, Carrot, or White are in stock and ready to ship

• Materials : Welded steel rods; CHROME, polished chrome with chrome connections. WHITE/BLACK/GREEN, bonded Rilsan® finish with stainless steel connections; plastic glides. VINYL SEAT PAD, 65% polyester; 35% rayon.
• Measurements : H 29″ W 22″ D 20″; Seat H 18″