Harry Bertoia first introduced industrial wire rods in furniture making. Being a sculptor, he was skilled in using such material in sculpture, however, using those in furniture was a bold step on his part and he could succeed to get acceptance because he could successfully transform his art of sculpture into furniture designs. He studied art and sculpture in USA, though he was born in Italy. He was invited to work at his own will at the Knoll, a famous designer house of furniture owned by Florence Knoll Bassett and her husband Hans Knoll. He was able to do a lot of experiments at Knoll with new materials, which were conventionally not used for furniture in the Fifties of the last century.
As a result of his endeavor in the year 1952 he did his first furniture presentation, Bertoia Seating Collection, which was a perfect introduction of sculpture into furniture. Each piece of this collection was a piece of sculpture to be adorned. bertoia chairs thus got huge popularity in those days and it never diminished at all till these days.
Fifty years have passed; the Knoll still produces Bertoia Chairs in an increasing number. This indicates the ever-growing demand for these chairs. There are people with taste for art and prefer these chairs to Modern Sectional or barcelona chairs, only for its elegant design with a sculptural look as contemporary furniture.
