Early Children's Side Chairs by Harry Bertoia for Knoll in White Enamel, Pair

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Harry Bertoia, renowned primarily as a sculptor, was approached by Florence Knoll with a simple request: if he discovered an … Read more Harry Bertoia, renowned primarily as a sculptor, was approached by Florence Knoll with a simple request: if he discovered an interesting design motif in his artistic process, he should share it with Knoll. There was no specific product in mind; the emphasis was on creativity. Bertoia, always seeking designs that conformed naturally to the body, explored the use of bent metal rods to create a visually weightless support system. This sculptural approach led to his iconic seating designs, where sitting felt as effortless as floating on air.

These child-sized side chairs exemplify Bertoia's early work and come from an estate featuring many early Knoll designs. Based on the lightness of the rods used, we estimate they were produced in the late 1950s. The airiness of these rods, central to Bertoia's original vision, would later give way to heavier gauges in subsequent production. We've meticulously cleaned the chairs' original white enamel finish, which shows minimal wear considering their age.

Also included although not pictured, are the chairs' original plastic floor glides and seat pads, which still have a partial Knoll upholstery label. The seat pads are covered in their original red naugahyde. See less