Architect, designer, and writer George Nelson was a central figure in the mid-century American modernist design movement; and his thoughts influenced not only the furniture we live with, but also how we live.
Nelson came to design via journalism and literature. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale in 1931, he won the Prix de Rome fellowship, and spent his time in Europe writing magazine articles that helped bring stateside recognition to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Gio Ponti, Le Corbusier and other canonical modernist architects.
In the 1940s, Nelson wrote texts that suggested such now-commonplace ideas as open-plan houses, storage walls and family rooms. D.J. De Pree, the owner of the furniture maker Herman Miller, was so impressed by Nelson that in 1944 — following the sudden death of Gilbert Rohde, who had introduced the firm to modern design in the 1930s — he invited Nelson to join the company as its design director. There Nelson’s curatorial design talents came to the fore.
To Herman Miller he brought such eminent creators as Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, and the textile and furniture designer Alexander Girard. Thanks to a clever contract, at the same time as he directed Herman Miller he formed a New York design company, George Nelson & Associates, that sold furniture designs to the Michigan firm. Nelson's studio also sold designs for clocks to the Howard Miller Clock Company, a manufacturer that was initially part of Herman Miller before it became an offshoot that was helmed by Howard Miller, D.J. De Pree's brother-in-law.
Nelson’s New York team of designers (who were rarely individually credited) would create such iconic pieces as the Marshmallow sofa, the Coconut chair, the Ball clock, the Bubble lamp series and the many cabinets and beds that comprise the sleek Thin-Edge line.
For dedicated collectors, as well as for interior designers who look beyond “the look,” there is a “cool factor” inherent to vintage pieces from George Nelson and others. Nelson was in on it from the start, and it’s valuable to have a piece that was there with him.
But still, as is evident from the offerings from dealers on 1stDibs, in any of the designs, in any iteration whose manufacture Nelson oversaw and encouraged, there are shining elements of lightness, elegance, sophistication — and a little bit of swagger. George Nelson felt confident in his ideas about design and didn’t mind letting the world know.
1950s Giuseppe Scapinelli Brazilian Dining Table or Console Table Mid Century
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Monrovia, CA
Giuseppe Scapinelli - Giuseppe Scapinelli Dining / Console Table. Gorgeous Brazilian Solid Peroba de Campos. Curvaceous Soft Lines. Sculptural Sloping Trestle That Is Iconic To Scapinelli's Designs. 1950s & 1960s of Sao Paulo, Brazil - Giuseppi Scapinelli...
Wood
Mid Century Modern 1960s Motif Inc. #6304 F203 Beveled Solid Walnut Side Table
Located in Monrovia, CA
This Listing Is Offering A Mid Century Modern 1960s Motif Inc. Beveled Solid Walnut Side Table #6304 F203. Beautiful Solid Walnut Side Table In Excellent Vi...
Wood, Walnut
1950s Edward Wormley for Dunbar Extension Dining Set 6 Chairs 2 Leaves
By Edward Wormley
Located in Monrovia, CA
1950s Dunbar, designer Edward Wormley extention dining table with 2 leaves model 5462 with 6 chairs model 5480. Rare Mid-Century Modern 1950s Edward Wormley extension dining table...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
1970s Round Milo Baughman Style Solid Walnut Coffee Cocktail Table Chrome Base
By Milo Baughman
Located in Monrovia, CA
1970s Round Solid Walnut Coffee / Cocktail Table With Chrome X Base In The Style Of Milo Baughman. Beautiful Solid Walnut Table Top Has A Unique Walnut Grain Pattern And The Chrome X...
Chrome
RARE 1950s Maurice Bailey Monteverdi Young Card Table & 4 Maurice Bailey Chairs
By Maurice Bailey, Monteverdi-Young
Located in Monrovia, CA
1950s Maurice Bailey Monteverdi Young Card Table And 4 Maurice Bailey Chairs Set. Maurice Bailey For Monteverdi Young Leather Top Card Table and 4 Upholstered Chairs. Leather Top Has Some Wear And Use Throughout The Years Of Gin Rummy. Original Upholstery Is In Excellent Vintage Condition. Construction And Sturdiness Of The Chairs and Card Table Are In Excellent Vintage Condition. FYI: This Maurice Bailey For Monteverdi Young Card Table Set (And Many Other Maurice Bailey Items At The Time) Was Once Owned by Famous Architect Maurice Fleishman Purchase At His Beautiful Home / Estate . As a practicing architect with an office in Beverly Hills, California until his "unofficial" retirement in 2002, Maury was best known for his "mid century" modern style of civic buildings most notable being the Santa Monica Municipal Courts (1968), Beverly Hills Municipal Courts (1970), Malibu Administrative Center (1970) and the Los Angeles Criminal Courts building (1973) And He designed the Marina Del Rey...
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Charles Eames Herman Miller Round Black Conference or Dining Table
Located in Monrovia, CA
1960s Charles Eames aluminum group conference or dining table with segmented solid aluminum four star base. this sleek and elegant design by Charles and Ray Eames complements any ho...
Aluminum, Steel
1950's George Nelson for Herman Miller Gate Leg Dining Table
By George Nelson
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Iconic George Nelson design for Herman Miller gate leg table. 2 fold wide wood hinged tops with double gate legs. The odd discoloration of one le...
Walnut
1950s George Nelson for Herman Miller Gate Leg Dining Table in Walnut
By George Nelson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Gate-Leg Dining Table, originally designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller in 1946. This particular examples was produced in the United States and dates to the 1950s. Th...
Walnut
George Nelson Gateleg Drop Leaf Dining Table for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nelson expandable gateleg dining table table for Herman Miller, c.1950s, USA. The walnut table features beautiful dovetail joinery, two drop leaves and a center leaf. The tabl...
Walnut
George Nelson for Herman Miller Extendable Dining Table
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Esperance, NY
Available for purchase is this beautiful original mid-century table, featuring two butterfly leaves for easy extension. When fully extended, the table measures 82” in width.
Wood
MidCentury Pedestal Extension Dining Table - George Nelson - Herman Miller - 60s
By Herman Miller
Located in Milano, IT
Pedestal extension dining table model 5559B designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, produced in the USA in the 1960s. Dining or conference table model 5559B, designed by George...
Aluminum
Mid Century Dining Table after Risom c 1950/1960's
By Jens Risom, Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mid Century boat shaped dining table, design reminiscent of Jens Risom, Paul McCobb etc, unsigned. The table is in very good, original, clean and ready to use condition, show...
Walnut
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.
Maggie and Anne Genovese, of Forsyth, teamed up with fashion designer Nikki Kule to reimagine some classic pieces.
