George Nelson (designer) - Furniture Designs

Furniture Designs

(# currently available from Herman Miller)

• 1946 Slat Bench a/k/a Platform Bench #
• 1946 Basic Cabinet Series (a number of these cabinets were reintroduced by Herman Miller in 2011)
• 1946 Sofas, chairs, settees, and bedroom pieces (all included in the first Herman Miller catalog)
• 1950 Ball clock (likely designed by Irving Harper)
• 1952 Rosewood Group
• 1952 Executive Office Group
• 1954 Miniature Cases #
• 1954 Steel-frame Group
• 1954 Nelson End Table (and low coffee table) #
• 1955 Flying Duck Chair
• 1955 Coconut Chair # (currently available in black leather only, but not with the matching ottoman)
• 1956 Thin Edge Cases
• 1956 Kangaroo Chair
• 1958 Swagged-Leg (a/k/a/ Swag Leg) Group #
• 1959 Comprehensive Storage System (CSS)
• 1963 Catenary Group
• 1964 Action Office I (principally designed by Robert Propst)
• 1964 Sling Sofa & coffee table

His firm, George Nelson Associates, also designed a large series of wall and table clocks for the Howard Miller company, as well as a range of hanging Bubble Lamps, which had plastic membrane-covered wire-form shades (also for Howard Miller, but currently available from Modernica (http://www.modernica.net), wrought iron fireplace pieces, planters, room dividers, ceiling-mounted "Ribbon Wall," spice cabinets, and many other products that became milestones in the history of a profession that he helped to shape.

A number of the nearly 300 classic wall clocks for Howard Miller Clock Company (including the Ball, Kite, Eye, Turbine, Spindle, Petal and Spike clocks, as well as a handful of desk clocks) are currently available from Vitra. Most were designed by Irving Harper.

All the original clock designs were simply assigned numbers by Howard Miller. Probably the most recognisable of the series, the Ball Clock, was advertised and sold as ‘Clock 4755’; the Sunflower Clock as ‘Clock 2261’. Several colour variations were available for many of the clocks. The Ball Clock was available in six colour variations, the Sunflower Clock in three. One of the more unusual designs, the Eye Clock (‘Clock 2238’) was pictured in the original Howard Miller Clock Company brochures in a diagonal position, not horizontal, as would be expected.