George Nelson Four Bay Fully Loaded CSS System by Herman Miller
View Similar Items
George Nelson Four Bay Fully Loaded CSS System by Herman Miller
About the Item
- Creator:Herman Miller (Manufacturer),George Nelson (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 90 in (228.6 cm)Width: 128 in (325.12 cm)Depth: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original vintage condition, with typical signs of light wear.
- Seller Location:Highland, IN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90914022313
George Nelson
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.
Herman Miller
No other business of its kind did more than the Herman Miller Furniture Company to introduce modern design into American homes. Working with legendary designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Alexander Girard, the Zeeland, Michigan-based firm fostered some of the boldest expressions of what we now call mid-century modern style. In doing so, Herman Miller produced some of the most beautiful, iconic and, one can even say, noblest chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture ever.
Founded in 1923, Herman Miller was originally known for grand historicist bedroom suites: heavily ornamented wood furniture that appealed to a high-minded, wealthier clientele. The company — named for its chief financial backer — began to suffer in the early 1930s as the Great Depression hit, and D.J. De Pree, the company’s CEO, feared bankruptcy. In 1932, aid came in the form of Gilbert Rohde, a self-taught furniture designer who had traveled widely in Europe, absorbing details of the Art Deco movement and other modernist influences. After persuading De Pree that the growing middle class required smaller, lighter household furnishings, Rohde set a new course for Herman Miller, creating sleek chairs, tables and cabinetry that were the essence of the Streamline Moderne style.
Rohde died suddenly in 1944. The following year, De Pree turned to George Nelson, an architect who had written widely about modern furniture design. Under Nelson’s leadership, Herman Miller would embrace new technologies and materials and audacious biomorphic forms.
Some of the pieces the company produced are now emblems of 20th century American design, including the Eames lounge chair and ottoman and Nelson’s Marshmallow sofa and Coconut chair. Such instantly recognizable furnishings have become timeless — staples of a modernist décor; striking, offbeat notes in traditional environments.
Find a range of vintage Herman Miller office chairs, desks, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- George Nelson Model 4652 Extension Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThis early George Nelson design features two extensions with reversible and removable tray tables. Closed, it is a modestly scaled table. Opened the surface nearly doubles, and the t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood, Formica
- Set of George Nelson Swag Leg Chairs by Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThe swag leg chair designs by the office of George Nelson were developed in response to his desire to create a chair with a beautiful "swagged" leg (one that tapers while it curves)....Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- George Nelson Modular Group SofaBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThe modular seating group designed by the Nelson office in 1955 is one of our favorite sofa designs. It was designed on a 30" module and offered in a wide variety of configurations. ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Set of Four Eames Zenith Dar Armchairs by Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThe earliest fiberglass Eames chairs were produced by Zenith Plastics and came in a limited palate of five colors including lemon yellow. The Zenith produced shells are distinctive f...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Eames CTW-3 Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThis early vintage coffee table by Charles and Ray Eames is an important and iconic design. The result of the couple's experiments in molded plywood, the table is visually and physic...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAsh
- Alexander Girard Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy Alexander Girard, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INAlexander Girard's model #66350 coffee table was part of a suite of furniture originally designed for Braniff Airlines. Produced by Herman Miller for a single year in 1967, these rar...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- George Nelson X-Leg Table for Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Los Angeles, CAGeorge Nelson X-Leg Table for Herman Miller. Originally designed and produced in the 1950s this was made as a work table for an office but equally intended for a dining space as well...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsChrome
- George Nelson Desk for Herman Miller, 1960sBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Berlin, DEGeorge Nelson Desk for Herman Miller, 1960s The Top has a very floating appearance.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- George Nelson for Herman Miller 'Action Office 1' DeskBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Los Angeles, CAEarly George Nelson Action Office 1 desk in original condition with minor wear. George Nelson for Herman Miller, polished aluminum, plastic laminate, w...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Action Desk by George Nelson & Robert Propst for Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Robert Propst, Herman MillerLocated in Madrid, ESAction Office desk, model 64 902, designed by George Nelson & Robert Propst for Herman Miller from the 1960s. Base made of chrome-plated aluminum with white plastic protectors. Locka...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Desk Action Office 1, George Nelson, Herman Miller, Large VersionBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Bern, CHDesign classic desk Action Office 1, George Nelson, Herman Miller, large version. Offered is a rare original design classic rarity, the desk Action Office 1. Model 64 902. Designe...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMetal, Aluminum
- George Nelson by Herman Miller Laminated Aluminum Design 1950s Rare DeskBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Brescia, ITGeorge Nelson by Hermann Miller 1950s Laminated wood, aluminum base Rare model.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsAluminum
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
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.
Kule and Forsyth Give Iconic Furniture a Bold Makeover with Stripes
Maggie and Anne Genovese, of Forsyth, teamed up with fashion designer Nikki Kule to reimagine some classic pieces.