162 - BERTOIA, Harry (1915–1978) KNOLL ASSOCIATES (Edited by)

BERTOIA, Harry (1915–1978) KNOLL ASSOCIATES (Edited by) Armchair known as the “Bird Chair,” model 423 LU, and its footrest, model 424 YU, with shells made of a white-coated welded steel rod lattice. Black-lacquered steel rod bases in a crisscrossed arch design; seats resting on rubber shock-absorbing pads (missing its upholstery cover; oxidation on the base; chips in the seat coating). Model created in 1952 H 98 cm – W 98 cm – D 85 cm – Footrest: 39 x 59 x 42 cm - History: The prototype for the high-back armchair dates from 1951. In 1952, Knoll Associates dedicated an entire exhibition to Harry Bertoia at its New York showroom at 575 Madison Avenue—the first the company had ever dedicated to a single designer—and began selling the chairs in early 1953. - Bibliography: Nancy N. Schiffer and Val O. Bertoia, *The World of Bertoia*, Atglen, Schiffer Publishing, 2003; model shown on p. 41.