Marketing poster/brochure for Harry Bertoia’s line of sculptural steel wire mesh-and-rod chairs for Knoll Associates, published in 1957. Graphic design by Herbert Matter. Folded in eighths as issued. Printed on both verso and recto. Folds to variously showcase and reveal Matter’s elongated Knoll trademark “K”, a Knoll showroom setting featuring the chairs, a photo of Bertoia amidst his collaged metal sculptures, and product shots with curatorial information for his side chairs, small and large Diamond chairs, high Bird chair and ottoman. In Bertoia’s words, “In the sculpture, I am concerned primarily with space, form and the characteristics of metal. In the chairs many functional problems have to be satisfied first…but when you get right down to it the chairs are studies in space, form, and metal, too…If you will look at these chairs you will find that they are mostly made up of air, just like sculpture. Space passes through them.” An aside: A photo alongside the product shots shows two Diamond chair seating positions superimposed, indicating flexible seating positions analogous to Lina Bo Bardi’s now-famous Bowl Chair, designed around the same time (1951). This is perhaps a lesser-known attribute of Bertoia’s iconic design. Measures 19.5” x 23” open. Will ship folded (7” x 9.75”). Light bumping and rubbing to extremities.
Marketing poster/brochure for Harry Bertoia’s line of sculptural steel wire mesh-and-rod chairs for Knoll Associates, published in 1957. Graphic design by Herbert Matter. Folded in eighths as issued. Printed on both verso and recto. Folds to variously showcase and reveal Matter’s elongated Knoll trademark “K”, a Knoll showroom setting featuring the chairs, a photo of Bertoia amidst his collaged metal sculptures, and product shots with curatorial information for his side chairs, small and large Diamond chairs, high Bird chair and ottoman. In Bertoia’s words, “In the sculpture, I am concerned primarily with space, form and the characteristics of metal. In the chairs many functional problems have to be satisfied first…but when you get right down to it the chairs are studies in space, form, and metal, too…If you will look at these chairs you will find that they are mostly made up of air, just like sculpture. Space passes through them.” An aside: A photo alongside the product shots shows two Diamond chair seating positions superimposed, indicating flexible seating positions analogous to Lina Bo Bardi’s now-famous Bowl Chair, designed around the same time (1951). This is perhaps a lesser-known attribute of Bertoia’s iconic design. Measures 19.5” x 23” open. Will ship folded (7” x 9.75”). Light bumping and rubbing to extremities.
