Harry Bertoia’s 1950 experiment with bending metal rods into practical art produced a revered collection of seating, including the exquisite Bertoia side chair.
- Italian artist and furniture designer, Harry Bertoia, was thirty-seven years old when he designed the patented Diamond chair for Knoll in 1952. Innovative, comfortable and strikingly handsome, the chair’s delicate appearance belies its strength and durability. A classic, modern design that enhances any environment. DWR charges $698 for a Bertoia side chair vs the the $275 price from Gibraltar
Bertoia’s side chair remains a fascinating study in bent metal and a fixture of mid-century design. This reproduction is true to the original in construction and form. Now you can own your own version of this sculptural classic that took its rightful place as one of the most recognized mid century seating icons over 50 years ago.
Gibraltar Furniture’s Mid Century Classic Bertoia Side Chair Style Premium Reproduction Features:
True to original: Double exterior rod wraps the entire edge frame of the chair
Single interior 45 degree intersecting rods welded at each intersecting point
Remove-able Leatherette sleek seat cushion included
Frame welds are all smooth ground, sanded and sealed
Chip and Flake resistant. Ultra Violet light cured chrome finish
Construction: Bent Solid Core Steel Rod Frame
Stainless Steel connectors
4 Floor protector Glides
Some assembly required
Chair Dimensions: 20.5″ Width x 21.7″ Depth x 31.9″ Height
In Bertoia’s own words, “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them.”
Harry Bertoia’s 1950 experiment with bending metal rods into practical art produced a revered collection of seating, including the exquisite Bertoia side chair. Innovative, comfortable and strikingly handsome, the chair’s delicate appearance belies its strength and durability. A classic, modern design that enhances any environment, Bertoia’s side chair remains a fascinating study in bent metal and a fixture of mid-century design. The form is made of metal rods interconnected with leaving visible empty transparent space as he liked the idea of air flowing through the design.
The original wire chair version was created in 1950. Charles Eames instigated a court case in which he claimed copyright to the original diamond chair design concept. The court eventually forced Harry to change his design. He had no choice but to get back to the design drawing board and with focused inspiration, he created the 1952 version of the chair we recognize today as the Diamond Chair. It was an instant triumph, leaving no doubt to both Charles Eames and those who knew him, that the real design inspiration for the open form wire chair belonged to Bertoia. It is doubtful that he realized at the time that his Diamond Chair would become mid-century modern icon for over a half a century. To this day, it is still regarded as one of the top chair designs in the history of modern furniture.
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. Or you can consider a non-branded version from 
Gibraltar Furniture Design Notes - Modern Furniture + Design Blog 
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