Mid-century furniture by Harry Bertoia (United States)

Harry Bertoia (1915–1978) was an American artist and designer who is best known for his furniture designs, particularly his wire mesh chairs. Bertoia was born in Italy and immigrated to the United States in the 1930s, where he began working as a designer and metalworker. He is considered one of the most important figures of the American Mid-century modern design movement.

Bertoia began experimenting with wire mesh in the early 1950s as a material for chair seating, believing that the transparency and flexibility of the material would create a more comfortable and ergonomic chair. From this experimentation, he created his most famous design, the Bertoia Side Chair, which features a sculptural, wire mesh seat and backrest supported by a simple metal frame. The chair was first produced by the Knoll furniture company in 1952 and is still in production today.

Bertoia's designs are known for their simplicity, more... elegance and use of industrial materials. His work continues to be highly regarded and respected by designer, artist and architects, and his works are included in the permanent collections of many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. less...