Harry Bertoia

HARRY BERTOIA (San Lorenzo, Italy, 1915–Barto, Pennsylvania, 1978).
Set of four Diamond armchairs. Designed in 1952.
Manufactured by Knoll International in the 1990s.
Chrome-plated steel frame and cushions upholstered in red velvet.
With inspection labels.
In very good condition, with slight signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements of each: 74 × 85 × 74 cm.

The Diamond model is one of the great milestones of postwar modern furniture. Introduced by Knoll in 1952 as part of Harry Bertoia’s wire chair collection, it brought the designer’s sculptural explorations into industrial design: the wireframe structure does not define a compact volume, but rather forms a lightweight surface capable of enveloping the body and defining space with a minimal amount of material. Knoll has kept the collection in production since its launch.

Its significance lies in having transformed steel wire—previously associated mainly with technical applications—into a medium of great artistic expressiveness. The transparency of the mesh allows the chair to interact with the surrounding architecture, while the red cushions introduce a chromatic contrast and provide comfort without obscuring the original construction. The fact that it is a homogeneous set of four pieces enhances its decorative and collectible appeal.

A sculptor and designer, Harry Bertoia developed one of the most influential design collections of the 20th century for Knoll. The Diamond model is part of the collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago, while other chairs from the series are held at MoMA.