Chromed steel stool with a curved rectangular seat, designed by Harry Bertoia.
Identifier
FPF469
Title
Chromed steel stool with a curved rectangular seat, designed by Harry Bertoia.
Date
Designed in 1952, manufactured c. 1970
Description
A chromed steel stool with a curved rectangular seat and a moulded cushion known as the Bird Ottoman, designed by Harry Bertoia and manufactured by Knoll.
Full Description
This footstool, or ottoman, has a steel mesh top of rectangular convex form with curved sides, originally with a moulded latex cushion with a wool cover (the latex filling has now disintegrated and the cover is kept separately). The seat is supported on a leg frame of bent and welded steel rods. All of the steel is chrome-plated. The cushion was originally stretched over the steel frame and attached with hooks. The ottoman was designed in 1952 by Harry Bertoia for Knoll Associates, Chicago as a companion piece to his Bird Chair.
These wire pieces were initially handmade, and even today they still require a certain amount of handwork.
Bertoia (1915-1978) was born in Italy and moved to the USA in the mid-1930s. He studied art and jewellery design at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he became close friends with other pioneering designers including Charles and Ray Eames. From 1950 Bertoia worked in Pennsylvania with fellow Cranbrook graduate, Florence Knoll. During this period he designed five wire pieces which became known as the Bertoia Collection for Knoll. They included the Bird Chair and Ottoman.
Bertoia’s legacy lives on and his furniture is still in production by Knoll.
Bertoia’s Diamond Chair is also in the Collection, see FPF468.
These wire pieces were initially handmade, and even today they still require a certain amount of handwork.
Bertoia (1915-1978) was born in Italy and moved to the USA in the mid-1930s. He studied art and jewellery design at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he became close friends with other pioneering designers including Charles and Ray Eames. From 1950 Bertoia worked in Pennsylvania with fellow Cranbrook graduate, Florence Knoll. During this period he designed five wire pieces which became known as the Bertoia Collection for Knoll. They included the Bird Chair and Ottoman.
Bertoia’s legacy lives on and his furniture is still in production by Knoll.
Bertoia’s Diamond Chair is also in the Collection, see FPF468.
Condition
Latex foam degraded, the remains were discarded in 2019; wool cover retained separately.
Materials
Steel.
Latex foam (now discarded).
Wool cover (now separate).
Latex foam (now discarded).
Wool cover (now separate).
Physical Dimensions
H. 34
W. 60
D. 43
W. 60
D. 43
Provenance
Purchased by the Frederick Parker Foundation at auction February 2010
Notes
Online sources:
Harry Bertoia | Wikipedia
The Bertoia Collection | Knoll
swiveluk.com
harrybertoia.org
See also: Mateo Kries, Vitra Atlas of Furniture Design, 2019, pp. 422-3
Harry Bertoia | Wikipedia
The Bertoia Collection | Knoll
swiveluk.com
harrybertoia.org
See also: Mateo Kries, Vitra Atlas of Furniture Design, 2019, pp. 422-3
