Harry Bertoia

Harry Bertoia (1915–1978) considered himself to be an artist and sculptor rather than a furniture designer. Born in Valvasone, Italy, he moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of fifteen and learned jewelry design while attending Cass Technical High School. In 1937 he received a scholarship to attend Cranbrook and formed relationships with Walter Gropius, Ray and Charles Eames, and Florence Knoll. 

Though he worked primarily in metal, he wanted his forms to reflect and be formed from natural elements. His iconic diamond chairs were “made out of air.” To create the floating appearance of this chair, he welded a web out of steel, revolutionizing notions of comfort and the many ways a body can sit. Bertoia met Charles and Ray Eames and Florence and Hans Knoll while studying at Cranbrook. After Cranbrook, he worked for the Eameses from 1943 to 1946 before leaving to work for the rival Knoll firm in New York. At Knoll, Hans created his incredibly influential forms but left after five years to commit his professional endeavors to his work in sculpture.