Harry Bertoia 1952
The Bertoia Barstool is part of Harry Bertoia's iconic 1952 wire collection, an astounding study in space, form and function by one of the master sculptors of the last century. Like Saarinen and Mies, Bertoia found sublime grace in an industrial material, elevating it beyond its normal utility into a work of art. The Bertoia Barstool is perfect for the home, office or café.
Characteristic of the early environment at Knoll, Hans and Florence never demanded that Bertoia design furniture, but instead encouraged him to explore whatever he liked. They simply asked that if he arrived at something interesting, to show them. Bertoia later explained the process:
“I went around and discovered, quite soon, that I was not the man to do research. My feeling was that had to come from an inward direction. I began to rely once more on my own body. I began to think in terms of what I would like as a chair. It started very slowly…I came into rod or wire, whether bent of straight. I seemed to find myself at home. It was logical to make an attempt utilizing the wire.
"Once more, I went through the procedure of positioning, considering the possibility of shapes, then relating, of course, what the wire itself could be, what shapes it might take, whether there were any tools to do it with. There are many aspects of the same things coming into one’s mind, but the very first thing was whether a shape would come up that would begin to serve as a chair, sitting on it, etc. One was taking the shape of a side chair; another was beginning to extend to care of the head. This developed to the point where something could be held on to…You know, when you have something in front of you that can really physically be held, it becomes easier to make changes.”
Harry Bertoia was a complete and gifted artist and a Knoll collaborator for decades. Today Knoll carries on Harry Bertoia’s legacy of innovation, inspiration and beauty with the Bertoia collection, which has been in continuous production around the world since its introduction.
For a complete list of applicable upholsteries, please visit the Surface Finish Library.
19356 | Knoll Showroom, Design Days 2025
19353 | Knoll Showroom, Design Days 2025
18176 | Bertoia Barstool
17813 | Café Zone
17604 | Café | Reff Profiles
17378 | Student Union | k. lounge with Back, MultiGeneration by Knoll Light Task Chair, Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
17372 | Student Union | Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool, Pixel Table
16962 | Thriving Workplace
16828 | Thriving Workplace Welcome Area with Rockwell Unscripted Creative Wall
16181 | Bertoia Barstool with k. lounge
16064 | Community Space
15058 | Pixel Column Leg Table and Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
15057 | Pixel Column Leg Table and Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
15056 | Pixel Column Leg Table and Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
15055 | Pixel Column Leg Table and Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
14998 | Rockwell Unscripted Tall Table and Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
14356 | Rockwell Unscripted Tall Table with Bertoia Barstools
14306 | Rockwell Unscripted Tall Table
14304 | Rockwell Unscripted Tall Table
14303 | Rockwell Unscripted Creative Wall
14302 | Rockwell Unscripted Creative Wall
14094 | Bertoia Molded Shell Barstool
13557 | Knoll Atlanta Showroom
13547 | Knoll Atlanta Showroom
13068 | KnollTextiles
12777 | Knoll Houston Showroom
12254 | Activity Spaces
12051 | KnollTextiles
11136 | Antenna Workspaces
11101 | Corporate Concepts Inc
10970 | Antenna Reception Desk
9889 | Sports Apparel Company
9570 | Height Adjustable Table
8275 | Dividends Horizon
6977 | Kasian
5328 | Bertoia Barstool
16003 | Bertoia Barstools
13377 | Pixel Electric Height Adjustable T-Leg Table
7287 | Bertoia Barstool
7286 | Bertoia Barstool
7285 | Bertoia Barstools
7284 | Bertoia Barstool
7283 | Bertoia Barstool
7282 | Bertoia Barstool
7281 | Bertoia Barstool
6039 | Bertoia Barstool
6038 | Bertoia Barstools
5378 | Bertoia Barstools
3932 | Bertoia side char and barstool
The configurator below is for reference purposes only. All options, finishes and sizes may not be represented.
For the complete scope, please refer to the KnollStudio price list.