take a seat - bertoia side chair

I have a chair fetish. I can't seem to help myself. I blame my mother - as a child I seem to remember an endless round of junk shop scouting, and her buying up every old bentwood chair that we came across. The extent of her 'problem' was revealed last year when my parents moved house. Mum had something like 60 chairs to try and fit into her new home. Mind you, at the same time, all the chairs that I had stored under their house also came to light, and Mum & I had to think fast before Dad had them loaded up on the trailer for the dump. (Don't worry - it would never have happened!)

The chairs I love don't all have to be design icons. Sometimes it is just all about the chair itself, and the past life it may or may not have had. However, I do have a particular love for this 1952 designed Harry Bertoia side chair from Knoll. I think it is the perfect chair to start my little 'take a seat' column with.

Some years ago Brunnel & I were having lunch across the road from a recycle store. My heart nearly did a double take when I spied not one, but four of these beauties sitting amongst the detritus inside the door. All Brunnel's romantic chatter aside (!), I was out the door, sprinting across the road to confirm my instincts. They were in brilliant condition, and complete with their original chair pads. I felt as if I'd won lotto I was that excited. For some years we had no space to utilise these gorgeous chairs - we loaned them out or they sat in the garage (sacrilege), however now they take pride of place in our office, where we can enjoy them almost every day.

Amanda xx

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