Harry Bertoia

The Jewelry of Harry Bertoia-Cranbrook

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First ever museum exhibition of the fantastic jewelry made by Harry Bertoia, appropriately occurring on what would have been Bertoia’s 100th birthday!

“Former Cranbrook Academy of Art student and metalsmithing instructor Harry Bertoia (1915–1978) has received international acclaim for his metal furniture and sculpture, but not for his exploration of the medium originated in jewelry design. Out of the hundreds of jewelry works attributed to Bertoia, the majority was produced during his years at Cranbrook, offering an early glimpse of a creative vision that would crystallize as his career matured. The Jewelry of Harry Bertoia examines the artist’s experimentations with form, dimension, and fabrication on a concentrated and bankable scale—establishing Bertoia as a pioneer of the American Studio Jewelry movement and a master of elevating fashionable adornment to object l’art” curator Shelley Selim describes in the notification of this upcoming exhibition. The exhibition dates are March 14-November 29, 2015.

 

 

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Harry Bertoia

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Harry Bertoia was the head of the metalsmith department at Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1939-1943. He is well known for the famous “diamond” chair manufactured by Knoll. He also made beautiful sculptures. Less well known is the marvelous jewelry he made, one of my favorites is shown here.

This Necklace was made by Bertoia as a gift for Eliel Saarinen’s wife, Loja while Saarinen was president of the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Check out the cover lot at Christie’s Auction 6/12/2014 for a wonderful Bertoia sculpture going up for sale.