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.
George Nelson, Ball Bubble Pendant, Steel, Spray Plastic, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
An early spray plastic and steel pendant light, model "Ball Bubble" designed by George Nelson and produced by Howard Miller, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with a...
Steel
$1,292
H 45.28 in Dm 15.75 in
Huge Opaline Glass Lamp "BOLOGNA" by Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg for Peill & Putzler
By Aloys F. Gangkofner, Peill & Putzler
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Huge Opaline Glass Lamp "BOLOGNA" by Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg for Peill & Putzler. We have a great collection of the Bologna range, two the large globe, a small globe and a huge cylind...
Brass
Opaline Glass Lamp "BOLOGNA" by Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg for Peill & Putzler
By Peill & Putzler, Aloys F. Gangkofner
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Huge Opaline Glass Lamp "BOLOGNA" by Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg for Peill & Putzler. We have a great collection of the Bologna range, two the large globe, a small globe and a huge cylind...
Brass
$542Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in Dm 12.6 in
Midcentury Pendant Lamp Bologna by Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1958
By Aloys F. Gangkofner, Peill & Putzler
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Midcentury glass pendant lamp Bologna by Alois Ferdinand Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler, Germany, 1958. This model was made in three sizes, watch picture. We can offer the small a...
Glass
$845
H 48.43 in Dm 11.82 in
Aloys Gangkofner Mid Century Glass Pendant Lamp Model Bologna by Peill & Putzler
By Aloys F. Gangkofner, Peill & Putzler
Located in München, DE
Very high quality rare beautiful Aloys Gangkofner Mid Century large glass pendant lamp model Bologna by Peill & Putzler. Very nice minimalistic 1950s design. Shade made of thick mat...
Glass
$3,442
H 15.75 in Dm 13.78 in
Bologna Ceiling Lamp by Aloys Ferdinand Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler, 1060s
By Aloys F. Gangkofner
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century glass pendant by peill & putzler, based on a 1950s design by aloys f. Gangkofner. a minimalist design with understated ornamentation. A functional light source and simult...
Metal
1970s Napako "Bubble" Pendant Lamp, Czechoslovakia
By Josef Hurka
Located in Praha, CZ
This rare pendant lamp was produced in 1960s in Czechoslovakia by Napako in 1970s. Every plastic ball has 7.5cm in diameter. Very good original condition.
Plastic
$3,291
H 15.75 in Dm 13.78 in
Mid-Century Modern Bologna Pendant Lamp by Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler, 1960s
By Peill & Putzler, Aloys F. Gangkofner
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century glass pendant by peill & putzler, based on a 1950s design by aloys f. Gangkofner. a minimalist design with understated ornamentation. A functional light source and simul...
Metal
$1,586 / item
H 17.72 in Dm 15.75 in
Large Bologna Ceiling Lamp by Aloys F. Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler
By Aloys F. Gangkofner, Peill & Putzler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Bologna ceiling lamp designed in 1958 by Alois Ferdinand Gangkofner for Peill & Putzler, Germany. Opal glass, the electrical wiring has been replaced by a new one in black clot...
Opaline Glass
Peill & Putzler 1970s Large Bubble Ball Pendant Lamp
By Peill & Putzler
Located in Delft, NL
Peill & Putzler 1970s large Bubble ball pendant lamp A pendant lamp by Peill & Putzler, Germany 1970s. A hand blown glass in the shape of a round ball with air bubbles and chromed...
Metal
Sven Aage Brutalist Hanging Lamp for Holm Sorensen & Company
By Holm Sørensen
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Sven Aage. Manufacturer: Holm Sorensen & Company. Period or model: Mid-Century Modern. Specs: Metal. Condition: This Holm Sorensen brutalist lamp is in great vintag...
CraftAssociates Dining Tables, Milo Baughman Round Dining Table
By Milo Baughman, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Dining Tables, Milo Baughman Round Dining Table The Milo Baughman Round Dining Table for Craft Associates® Furniture is ex...
Wood, Rosewood, Walnut
Alvino Bagni Bowl or Vase for Raymor
By Raymor, Alvino Bagni
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Alvino Bagni. Importer: Raymor. Period or model: Mid-Century Modern. Specs: Pottery Condition: This Alvino Bagni 4303 bowl or vase Imported by Raymor is in ex...
Pottery
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu side table, modern side table, The Willow, Red Cedar. Please scroll down to read important instructions about our stumps before purchase! Why buy BERTU HOME stumps? Kiln Dried...
Cedar
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Side Table, Modern Side Table, the Willow, Red Cedar Please scroll down to read important instructions about our stumps before purchase! Why buy bertu home stumps? Kiln Dried Our stumps all go through a drying process in our kiln, sometimes for up to a month. We are meticulous with bringing each and every log to a specific moisture level. This process helps with major cracking, long-term moisture issues, and bugs. Eco friendly In an effort to replenish the trees we use, we plant 50+ trees a year. In addition, we practice salvage logging. Where do we source these? Some of the trees fall naturally. Some have damage from severe wind, lightning, flood, disease, or other natural disturbance so they need to be cut and removed before they fall. Others are fresh cut because people want them off their land. Salvage logging may reduce erosion, reduce intensity of future wildfires, and slow buildup of pest insects. Family owned These are made from our family to yours. Quality is of utmost importance, and we hand cut, de-bark, sand, and finish every piece with care.See how we do it here. Commercial grade These stumps are meant to be loved and USED. Each is finished with a durable commercial-grade finish. This finish is tough enough for spills, kids, and holds up in hotel and hospitality settings. This Organic Modern Side Table - The Willow is hand sculpted in the heart of Ohio out of a solid truck of local red cedar. The side table can be used for a nightstand, a stool, or grouped together for an architectural larger table. They are great next to a chair, sofa, or bathtub. Each stump is made from a solid trunk of red cedar and is hand sawed...
Cedar
Lawrence Peabody Dining Table for Richardson Brothers
By Richardson Brothers, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody. Manufacturer: Richardson Brothers. Period and model: Mid-Century Modern. Specifications: Elm. Condition: This Lawrence Peabody dining tabl...
Elm
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