The American industrial designer, architect, and journalist George Nelson was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1908. From 1928 until 1931 he attended Yale University, obtaining both a BA and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. From 1932 until 1934 George Nelson studied at the American Academy in Rome, returning to the US in 1935. Between 1944 and 1949 he was an associate editor and then a consultant editor for the journal "Architectural Forum".
As a journalist who wrote for "Pencil Point" magazine among other publications, George Nelson was in a position to acquaint American readers with the European avant-garde. From 1946 until 1972 George Nelson was director of design at Herman Miller. In 1947 George Nelson opened a practice in New York, which became George Nelson & Associates in 1953, with Gordon Chadwick as a partner.
While working for Herman Miller, George Nelson introduced several important innovations in office furniture design. Of his own designs, the 1958 "Swagged Leg Group", which includes the "DAF" and "MAA" chairs, is particularly noteworthy. The back of the "MAA" is flexible and can be adjusted backwards at a 90-degree angle, which is made possible by an innovative new jointed fastener, consisting of steel ball bearings in rubber mounts. In 1946 George Nelson designed "Platform", a simple and functional bench, for Herman Miller.
The best known George Nelson designs include the 1955 "Coconut Chair", with a triangular seat inspired by a piece of coconut shell. The 1956 "Marshmallow" sofa is another revolutionary George Nelson design, with a seat and back made of individual round cushions. In the 1940's and 1950's, George Nelson designed a great many wall clocks for the Howard Miller Clock Company, of which the best known is bound to be "Ball" (1947), with the hours marked by balls of wood.
$495.00
Part of the Nelson Bubble Lamp series, the Nelson Apple Bubble Pendant has a clean, rounded symmetry. It comes with a ceiling plate, from where it floats overhead, casting a soft, even light. George Nelson designed the series in 1952. He was inspired by a...
$395.00
The Nelson Ball Bubble Pendant is a full, perfectly round sphere that fills any interior with a warm, diffused light. A ceiling plate allows it to delicately float overhead. George Nelson was inspired by a set of silk-covered Swedish hanging lamps when he originally designed...
$395.00
The Nelson Ball Crisscross Bubble Pendant is part of the Nelson Bubble Lamp series, a group of lighting fixtures in charming spherical shapes. The crisscross pattern of the lamp’s structure adds an interesting dimensionality and soft light to any interior. George Nelson, inspired by a...
$495.00
The Nelson Ball Lotus Table Lamp is part of the Nelson Bubble Lamp series. Mounted on a steel base, the charming sphere fills interiors with a warm, diffused light. George Nelson, inspired by a set of silk-covered Swedish hanging lamps, originally designed the Bubble Lamp...
$495.00
The Ball Sconce Bubble Lamp is handsomely constructed with a 2-inch thick solid walnut wall-mount and a brushed-nickel steel arm that extends out approximately 14-inches. The arm has a swivel hinge and an adjustable 12-foot plug-in cord with a counterweight, that allows for height adjustments....
$395.00
The Original George Nelson Bubble Lamp Cigar Pendant is a tried-and-true standard of the modern vocabulary. The Bubble Lamps, with their iconic sculptural shapes, were designed by Nelson in 1947. They are constructed of an innovative taut plastic that coats a steel wire-frame. Nelson’s unique...
$395.00
The original George Nelson Bubble Cigar Tripod Lamp is simplicity defined. The tripod stand is constructed of durable brushed, nickel-plated steel. Each lamp has an on/off switch, and comes with 90-inches of cord. The Cigar Tripod Lamp is available in three sizes. The shade, designed by...
$395.00
The Original George Nelson Bubble Lamp Cigar Crisscross Pendant is a tried-and-true standard of the modern vocabulary. The Bubble Lamps, with their iconic sculptural shapes, were designed by Nelson in 1947. They are constructed of an innovative taut plastic that coats a steel wire-frame. Nelson’s...
$595.00
Built to last a lifetime, the Original George Nelson Bubble Lamp® Cigar Lotus Floor Lamp is solidly constructed of brushed, nickel-plated steel. Each lamp stand has a 6.5 pound steel base for stability, a 9-foot cord, and an easy-to-use on/off floor switch. This floor lamp...
$670.00
Built to last a lifetime, the Original George Nelson Bubble Lamp® Cigar Lotus Floor Lamp is solidly constructed of brushed, nickel-plated steel. Each lamp stand has a Walnut cover concealing a 6.5 pound steel base for stability, a 9-foot cord, and an easy-to-use on/off floor...
$495.00
The Cigar Lotus Table Lamp is simplicity defined. The stand, designed by Modernica Studios, is made of durable, line-grained, nickel-plated steel. Each lamp is built with an 8-inch solid steel base, 86-inches of cord, and features an easy-to-use on/off pull chain with a handsome solid...
$495.00
The Cigar Sconce Bubble Lamp is handsomely constructed with a 2-inch thick solid walnut wall-mount and a brushed-nickel steel arm that extends out approximately 14-inches. The arm has a swivel hinge and an adjustable 12-foot plug-in cord with a counterweight, that allows for height adjustments....
$1,295.00
The Original George Nelson Bubble Lamp Extra Large Bell Pendant is a tried-and-true standard of the modern vocabulary. The Bubble Lamps, with their iconic sculptural shapes, were designed by Nelson in 1947. They are constructed of an innovative taut plastic that coats a steel wire-frame....
$355.00
The Asterisk clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, this clock is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are perfect for...
$395.00
It's hard to resist the attractive George Nelson Ball Clock with its instantly recognizable wire rods and brightly colored balls. This fabulous wall clock was designed more than half a century ago and is the most recognized wall clock in modern day history. Legend has...
$490.00
Designed in the 1950's, the George Nelson Eye Clock is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, it is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are perfect for any interior space in...
$1,065.00
The "Flock of Butterflies" clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, this clock is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are...
$640.00
The "Flock of Butterflies" clock was designed by George Nelson in the early 1960's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, this clock is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks...
$550.00
The Spindle clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Today it is manufactured by Vitra in Europe. It is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are...
$530.00
The Star clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe. it is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are perfect for any...
$460.00
The Sunburst clock is one of the most recognized clocks in modern day history and provides a bright alternative to the less-than-exciting standard time pieces. This beautifully crafted clock doubles as wall art and is considered to be one of George Nelson's most beloved design creations....
$1,295.00
The Sunflower clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe. it is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are perfect for any...
$705.00
The Turbine clock was designed by George Nelson in the 1950's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, it is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. With mid-century modern designs that have an...
$545.00
The "Wheel" clock was designed by George Nelson in the early 1960's and is an icon of modern design. Manufactured by Vitra in Europe, this clock is battery powered by 1 AA battery (included) and has a quartz driven mechanism. George Nelson Clocks are perfect...