PP152 Harry Bertoia Furniture History and Identification

Registration Closed

Webinar Description

Thursday, May 26, 2022
1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern US

The Bertoia collection for Knoll is an iconic set of chairs that were released in 1952 and are still popular and produced today. The mid-century modernist movement was spearheaded by such designers as Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames and others. This presentation will provide a brief history of the development of these chairs and how they changed interior design forever. Unauthorized copies of the chairs are plentiful and you’ll learn how to distinguish the Knoll version from the copies. We’ll touch on restoration and maintenance of these objects. This is the first of three Bertoia webinars.

Webinar Audience

Anyone involved with mid-century modern objects, estate appraisers, furniture specialists.

General Webinar Information

Important login information will be e-mailed to registrants prior to the webinar. This webinar will be recorded.

System Requirements

To ensure the best ASA webinar experience, be sure to download the Zoom app on your device before the webinar begins.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

This webinar will award 1.0 CE hours.

If you are a designated member of the American Society of Appraisers, CE credit will automatically be entered into your record ONLY if you participate in the live webinar. Please allow approximately 2 weeks post-webinar for ASA to notify participants via email regarding a certificate of completion.

Topics Covered

Brief Early History of Harry Bertoia

Italy
Detroit
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Associates Eames, Schust, Saarinen, Valentiner
MoMA contest of Organic Design

California

Work with Eames in California
Wire Grid concept
Point Loma Naval Electronics Lab

Pennsylvania

Knoll employment in Pennsylvania
Chair release 1952
Effect of midcentury modern furniture
Asymmetric Chaise 2005

How to ID authentic Knoll chairs

Change in 1986
Frame leg overlap
Shape of upper wire openings
“Knoll” stamp after 2004
Diamond shape vs. Circle
Valuation notes
Hints on restoration / repair

Q&A

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Inform others about the history of these and other mid-century modern furniture
Recognize how these chairs changed interior design
Identify valid Knoll Bertoia chairs vs. unauthorized copies
Review possibilities for restoration or repair

Celia Bertoia

Celia Bertoia, youngest daughter of Harry Bertoia, grew up in Pennsylvania, spent decades in Boulder, Colorado in the real estate market, then owned a race timing company in Bozeman, Montana. Celia is currently the founder and director of the Harry Bertoia Foundation, a 501 (c)(3), anchored in St George, Utah. She authored the Life and Work of Harry Bertoia: the Man, the Artist, the Visionary (Schiffer, 2015). She is also an accredited appraiser with ASA, specializing in post war art. Her passion is to further the legacy of Harry Bertoia.