When Is a Piece of Sculpture Also a Work of Music? When It’s Somnambient by Harry Bertoia

We just discovered Untitled (Sonambient), an amazing artwork by the Italian-American sculptor Harry Bertoia. You could say it is a piece of sculpture. But you could also say it is a musical composition. The artist created it in 1977 from Beryllium copper rods and brass. It is 24″ long, 6″ wide, and 22 3/4″ inches high.

If you watch the video above, you will discover just how remarkable this work of art is. Dare we say, completely unique?

It is currently being represented by Jonathan Boos, one of New York’s most eminent art galleries. When we learned about this work, we wanted to show it to all you members of Classical Archives.

Here is how Jonathan Boos explains this work of art . . .

Harry Bertoia (Italian-American, 1915-1978), Untitled (Sonambient), 1977, Beryllium copper rods and brass, 24″ long x 6″ wide x 22 3/4″ high.

Harry Bertoia was a prominent and prolific mid-twentieth century sculptor, with wide-ranging design ability. In addition to sculpture, he created furniture, jewelry, large-scale screens, city fountains, masterful architectural installations and innovative sounding sculptures.

Bertoia was born in San Lorenzo, Italy in 1915 and moved to the United States with his father when he was fifteen years old. They settled in Detroit, Michigan where Harry attended Cass Technical High School before receiving a scholarship to attend Detroit School of Arts and Crafts. He then earned a scholarship to attend Cranbrook Academy of Art. It was here that he met several important people in his life, including his future wife, Brigitta, and her father, a famous art historian and collector, who taught him about the great masters of art. He also met Charles Eames, with whom he collaborated on chair design until he went off on his own to design for Knoll Associates in 1950.

Bertoia’s exposure to metalworking and drawing at Cranbrook provided him with the impetus to explore the sculptural forms for which he later became known. He often drew conceptual sketches, which he used as a guideline for future pieces. Sometimes up to thirty years would pass between conceptualization and realization of an idea (Nancy N. Schiffer and Val O. Bertoia, The World of Bertoia, Pennsylvania, 2003, p. 19).

To learn more, visit the Jonathan Boos gallery online.

Artist Harry Bertoia