Bertoia Side Chair

The Bertoia Side Chair was designed by Harry Bertoia in 1952 for Knoll as part of a wire furniture collection that also includes the Diamond Chair, Bird Chair, and bar stool. Like all Bertoia wire pieces, the Side Chair is constructed from welded steel wire rods that form a contoured shell, supported by slim wire rod legs. The resulting chair has a delicate, almost transparent quality that belies its structural strength—each piece can support far more weight than its ethereal appearance suggests. The Bertoia Side Chair has become one of the most popular and versatile dining and occasional chairs in modern design. Its wire construction allows it to blend into virtually any interior without adding visual weight, while its contoured form provides comfortable support for dining. Available with or without a seat pad, in chrome or painted finishes, the chair adapts to settings from rustic farmhouse tables to sleek modern dining rooms. Harry Bertoia received a royalty arrangement from Knoll that allowed him to pursue his sculptural and sound art for the rest of his life—a testament to the commercial success of this remarkable collection.