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bertoia molded shell side chair

by Harry Bertoia, from Knoll

bertoia molded shell side chair

Design Harry Bertoia, 1952
Welded steel rods, glass fiber reinforced nylon or polypropylene shell
Made in USA by Knoll

The Bertoia Molded Shell Side Chair is a reintroduction of a design originally debuted 1960. Merging the sublime grace of the wire-form Side Chair with a touch of color and natural flex, the reinvigorated classic is ready to add colorful accents to any room. Mix and match the chairs or keep a singular color palette, the Bertoia Shell Chair offers an iconic design with a playful tone.

Italian sculptor, university lecturer and furniture designer, Harry Bertoia was an inventor of form and an enricher of design. He introduced a new material by turning industrial wire rods into a design icon. Educated at the Detroit School of Arts & Crafts and Cranbrook Academy of Art. Bertoia taught metal crafts at Cranbrook while working with Charles Eames to develop his signature molded plywood chairs. Eero Saarinen commissioned him to design a metal sculptured screen for the General Motors Technical Center in Detroit. His awards include the craftsmanship medal from the American Institute of Architects, as well as AIA's Gold Medal.

The base features 11mm welded steel rods in polished chrome or highly durable bonded powder-coat (white or black) with stainless steel connections and plastic glides. Polished chrome base is not appropriate for outdoor use. The molded shells are available in 6 colors for indoor and outdoor use, if specified in a painted base finish. The molded shell colors are Black, Blue, Medium Grey, Orange Red, White and Yellow.

21.75" w | 19.75" d | 28.75" h | seat: 17.75" h | 14 lbs.

$426.00 + free shipping
(please allow 8-12 weeks for this special chair to be created and shipped to your location)
average rating: 5

Harry Bertoia

In addition to designing furniture, Bertoia was an artist and sculptor. At age 15 he moved to Detroit from Italy and began studying art and design. In 1938 he joined the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. The following year he received a scholarship to study at Cranbrook. He opened a metal workshop and taught jewelry design and metal work, focusing mostly on jewelry as WW2 made metal a rare commodity.
Knoll has remained true to the Bauhaus design philosophy that modern furniture should complement architectural space and not compete with it. At Knoll modern design has been a passion that has resulted in ground breaking modern furniture.

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bertoia molded shell side chair