The Finale Collection: designer Charles Pollock's last work released

American design brand Bernhardt Design is to release The Finale Collection, the last work of Charles Pollock, who died August 20, 2013. Here's a look back at the life of the American designer.

After designing the model 657 armchair for Florence Knoll and the iconic Pollock chair in 1965, Charles Pollock stepped away from the American design scene for 47 years. He made his big comeback in 2012, creating a range of new pieces for Bernhardt Design. The Finale Collection was under development at the time of his death, August 20, 2013.

The Finale Collection features a stylish modern couch, a club armchair, as well as reissues of other pieces created for Bernhardt Design with a limited-edition matte black finish. The collection will be available from January 2017.

Charles Pollock was born in Philadelphia, USA, in 1930. His family moved to Michigan when he was 16 years old and he remained in Detroit to finish his studies. At the time, he also worked for Chrysler, producing visual ads and gaining valuable experience in product manufacturing.

After studying at the School of Art and Design at Pratt Institute in New York, he worked for the designer Donald Deskey, whose projects include the Radio City Music Hall, and George Nelson, for whom he created The Swag Leg Collection. This caught the eye of Florence Knoll, which led the pair to meet. Charles Pollock subsequently designed the 657 armchair and the Pollock chair in 1965. He later turned his attention to Europe, creating the Penelope chair in 1982.

In 2012, Pollock returned to furniture design, creating the CP Lounge chair and the CP3 table for Bernhardt Design. He died aged 83, August 20, 2013.

Bernhardt Design was founded in 1980 by the 127-year-old Bernhardt Furniture Company. Designers who have created works for the brand include Ross Lovegrove, Arik Levy, Jaime Hayon and Patrick Jouin.