Bertoia Collection (Knoll) – The collection of furniture Bertoia designed for the Knoll company. The eight-piece collection includes his signature wire-grid seating, and largely has been in continuous production since its introduction in 1952.
Hammered – A metalwork technique in which a small hammer is used to strike the metal, shaping and/or adding texture to the material.
Hand Shaped – Shaped using the hands, rather than with machinery.
Hand Tooled – Made with small, manually-operated tools; most of Bertoia’s jewelry was made using this method.
Flatware – Utensils, including forks, knives, and spoons, used for serving and eating food.
Hollowware – Containers made of metal that are hollow and often deep; designed for drinking, serving, and display.
Ornament – Small objects intended for decoration or to adorn something else rather than to wear or serve another function.
Molded Plywood – A material made of thin layers of wood (veneer) arranged crosswise, pressed together, and bent into various shapes. Light and strong, molded plywood is particularly useful for furniture design.
Prototype – An object that serves as a working model to produce a design. Generally used to describe three-dimensional, functional objects.
Tea Service – Dishes used for preparing and serving tea. Sets typically include a teapot, creamer, sugar bowl, and often a matching tray. Bertoia occasionally made sets with coffee and water pots as well.