Classic modular sofa / cabinet / coffee table combination in rosewood by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Fully restored and reupholstered.
Price: $ 3,500
George Nelson (1908-1986), USA.
George Nelson was one of the most groundbreaking designers of mid-century modern design. Among George Nelson's most well-known works are the iconic Nelson clocks and Bubble lamps who continue to adorn homes all over the world.
In the 1930s George Nelson was an architectural student in Rome. Before returning home, an idea struck him: He would travel Europe and interview leading modern architects, hoping to get the articles published in the U.S. He succeeded, and in the process introduced the U.S. design community to the European avant-garde. This set in motion a sequence of what he called "lucky" career breaks that were really the inevitable outcomes of his brilliance as a designer, teacher, and author.
The first break was being named an editor of Architectural Forum magazine. Working on a story there in 1942, he was looking at aerial photos of blighted cities when--zap!--he developed the concept of the downtown pedestrian mall, which was unveiled in the Saturday Evening Post. Soon after, another zap led to the Storagewall, the first modular storage system and a forerunner of systems furniture.
The Storagewall was showcased in a 1945 Life magazine article, causing a sensation in the furniture industry. Herman Miller founder D.J. DePree saw the article and was so impressed that he paid a visit to Nelson in New York and convinced him to be his director of design, which spurred Nelson to found his design firm, George Nelson & Associates.
The warm personal and professional relationship between Nelson and DePree yielded a stunning range of products, from the playful Marshmallow Sofa to the first L-shaped desk, a precursor of today's workstation.
Photo Nicole Reed