Richard Harvey's Sculpta-Grille Screens

Sculpta-Grille screens designed by Richard Harvey are in demand like never before. Whether you know exactly what they are or not, chances are you’ve seen one of these oddly shaped, organic-looking, functional works of art.

Sculpta-Grille’s Origins

Richard “Dick” Harvey always had a passion for industrial design, but it was after serving with the navy in WWII that he would leave his mark on the world of interior design as well as industrial design. Upon returning from war, Harvey began working with his father, who was a skilled tradesman, making plastic injection molds for the doll industry.

A honeycomb, bone looking white room divider screen on a brown hardwood floor with a hanging picture of a palm frond and large orange door. — A Richard Harvey Sculpta-Grille screen perfectly placed as a room divider in a Hollywood Hills home.

Richard Harvey came up with the idea of making these large plastic mounted or framed screens to jazz up the often simplistic design of Mid Century Modern homes and buildings. After creating a series of prototypes, Harvey began manufacturing and fulfilling shipments of these large plastic grille screens out of his home, and as his success grew, so did his operation.

A lattice / honey-comb style richard Harvey sculpta-grille screen at a trade show booth surrounded by other mid century modern furniture. — A Richard Harvey Sculpta-Grille screen displayed at Habitat Gallery’s booth at the 2020 Palm Springs Modernism Show.

Richard Harvey’s Sculpta-Grille screens, which have since been nicknamed “bones” screens for their obvious likeness, have been used in almost every type of environment. They appear in theatres, homes, lounges, churches, etc. The screens have also been used as op-art backdrops for photoshoots throughout Hollywood for a number of name brands.

A Richard Harvey sculpta grille screen, white honeycomb room divider on walnut base placed in front of chrome dining room set in front of white vertical blinds. — A Richard Harvey Sculpta-Grille screen being used as a decorative room divider in front of a set of cognac Guido Faleschini for Pace Collection dining chairs.

Sculpta-Grilles Today

In 2008, Modernica was producing licensed reproductions of the Sculpta-Grille screens, but ceased production a number of years ago and now only offers the reproductions in a number of colors and sizes for rental as props. If interested in renting as a prop in the Los Angeles area, these can be sourced at modernicaprops.com.

If you’re so intrigued, you absolutely need a real McCoy in your life, there are currently several available right now on 1stdibs and Chairish.

Pair of Richard Harvey Sculpta-grille screens in silver, honeycomb shaped room dividers on a black rectangular pedestal base. — A pair of Richard Harvey Sculpta-Grille screens in silver currently available online. Photo used with permission from Dex Hamilton / Automaton Gallery, Los Angeles.

Richard Harvey, while not necessarily a household name, left his mark on the world of design in a big way. With his screens more desirable than ever, and mid century modern styling being more popular than its ever been, I’m sure these screens, while trend-setting for their time; will be considered timeless pieces of functional art well into the future.

Learn more about Richard Harvey here.

Curious about more MCM room dividers? Check out these “8 Room Dividers + Cabinets For Stylish Space Organization.”

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