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 for Herman Miller Pedestal/ Side Table
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
George Nelson for Herman Miller Pedestal Table. Aluminum Base with a formica top and maple edge. Classic, useful design! Very clean example!
Metal
C. 1954 George Nelson For Herman Miller End Table/Cabinet With Glass Top
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an End Table / Cabinet from George Nelson's Basic Cabinet Series, originally designed in 1946. This particular example was produced by Herman Miller C. 1954. This piece is co...
Aluminum
1950s George Nelson for Herman Miller Side Table / Nightstand on Pedestal Base
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Pedestal Occasional Table, model 5655, designed by George Nelson & Associates for Herman Miller in 1956. The piece has a case of Brazilian Rosewood and has a pedestal base of white enameled aluminum. It has one drawer. The base has been professionally restored, and the rosewood case has been freshly refinished. The piece measures 17 inches deep, 24 inches wide...
Aluminum
George Nelson Pedestal Side Table for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A simple and elegant pedestal side table with round top having a natural thin wood trim detail to the edge and cast meat star base . The base with foot pads to protect your floors ha...
Metal
George Nelson Pedestal Side Table for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Argelato, BO
George Nelson Vintage "Pedestal" Side Table for Herman Miller A simple and elegant pedestal side table with round top having cast meat star base . The base with foot pads to protect...
Metal
Pedestal Side Coffee 5452 Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
The famous coffee table designed by George Nelson in 1960 for Herman Miller. White pedestal base, white tabletop. Signed!
Aluminum
George Nelson Side Table for Herman Miller, Usa, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson side table for Herman Miller, USA - 1960s.
Wenge
Round Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The George Nelson-designed round pedestal side table for Herman Miller features a timeless and sleek design. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, it boasts a circular table s...
Aluminum
$2,625Sale Price|25% Off
Mid Century Planter Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This is a classic Mid-century modern planter table designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. There were several variations of this versatile piece. This example features a warm t...
Teak
George Nelson Black Pedestal Table by Vitra
By Vitra, George Nelson
Located in Madrid, ES
Pedestal table, originally designed by George Nelson in 1954, with four-branched base in black lacquered aluminum. Tabletop in black laminate with a visible edge in birch veneer. Pro...
Aluminum
George Nelson for Herman Miller Model 5153 Mobile Table
By Herman Miller, Irving Harper, George Nelson
Located in Hanover, MA
White enameled steel frame and white laminate rolling cart designed in 1951 by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Also referred to as an Angle Iron table...
Iron
Pair of Early Foil Label Original George Nelson Herman Miller Swag Leg Tables
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful example of this iconic design in nice vintage condition. A nice early Herman Miller Foil Strip label attached to underside. Acquired a 2nd identical table with the same Foi...
Metal
Mid Century Modern George Nelson for Herman Miller Swag Leg Side Table
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Modern George Nelson for Herman Miller Swag Leg Side Table Classic vintage mid century modern side table with white ...
Metal
Vintage George nelson Steel frame Side table for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
simple and elegant black steel frame with white laminate side table on castors. designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Iron
George Nelson for Herman Miller White Laminate and Black Steel Rolling End / Sid
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Queens, NY
2 Pairs of American mid-century rolling end / side tables with square white laminate tops and lower shelves contained in an open cube-form black coated steel frame, resting on four s...
Metal, Steel
1950s Pedestal Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Nelson Pedestal Side Table, originally designed by George Nelson in 1954. This particular example was produced by Herman Miller in the USA and dates back to the 1950s. The ...
Aluminum
Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in bruxelles, BE
Table with wooden top and metal base designed by George Nelson and produced by Herman Miller in the 1960s. Wear due to time and age of the table
Metal
Pedestal Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller, Usa, 1955
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pedestal desk designed in 1955 by George Nelson for Herman Miller, USA. Teak wood top with two drawers underneath and polished aluminium bases.
Aluminum
$3,550
H 33.86 in W 59.06 in D 27.56 in
George Nelson by Herman Miller Laminated Aluminum Design 1950s Rare Desk
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brescia, IT
Modernist Desk George Nelson by Hermann Miller 1950 Laminated wood, aluminum base Rare model.
Aluminum
Herman Miller George Nelson Action Office Desk
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Pasadena, TX
Thus is a Herman Miller Desk designed by George Nelson. It's from Nelson's Action Office Series. It has 2 pull out drawers and a mid drawer. The top is wood and the legs are steel wi...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel
George Nelson Herman Miller Side End Table
By Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Side table with glass top, designed by George Nelson, for Herman Miller. This table has some minor wear, including a small bruise to the bottom fronts of the drawer, as shown. Origi...
Walnut, Glass
George Nelson Side Table for Herman Miller, Usa, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson side table for Herman Miller, USA - 1960s.
Wenge
$3,800
H 28.15 in W 72.04 in D 40.15 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Pedestal Dining Table Desk, 1960
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Vienna, AT
Unusual original dining or desk table by George Nelson for Herman Miller, mid century Dimensions are 72.04" x 40.15" x 28.15" (height) This dining table was designed by George Nels...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Style Pedestal End Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautifulmid century modern pedestal table by Herman Miller can be used as a coffee or end table, and features the sleek and simple design of mid-century designer George Nelson....
Metal
Round Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The George Nelson-designed round pedestal side table for Herman Miller features a timeless and sleek design. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, it boasts a circular table s...
Aluminum
$2,850
H 16.75 in Dm 28.5 in
Early Pedestal Coffee Table No. 5452 Designed by Irving Harper for George Nelson
By Herman Miller, Irving Harper
Located in Kansas City, MO
Round white pedestal coffee / side table designed by Irving Harper for the George Nelson Office and made by Herman Miller between 1954-1957. Signed with the early Herman Miller Georg...
Steel
MidCentury George Nelson Sling Table for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Produced for only 4 years this exceptionally rare "Sling Table" is in wonderful vintage condition. Featuring a rounded granite top on chromed legs. A perfe...
Granite, Steel, Chrome
Charles & Ray Eames IT Folding Side Table, Herman Miller, 1950s
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A rare and early IT drop leg side table, abbreviated for Incidental Table, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, produced by Herman Miller in the late 1940s. This folding table features...
Metal
George Nelson for Herman Miller Extendable Dining Table
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
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 George Nelson for Herman Miller Side Tables
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
A striking and rare pair of pedestal end tables, model #5655, designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Crafted in walnut with enameled steel and aluminum bases, these tables embo...
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
C. 1958 Pair of George Nelson Pedestal Side Tables for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Nelson Pedestal Side Tables, originally designed by George Nelson in 1954. These particular examples were produced by Herman Miller in the United States and date ba...
Aluminum
Sold
H 21.5 in Dm 27.5 in
C. 2000s George Nelson for Herman Miller White Laminate Pedestal Side Table 28"
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Nelson Pedestal side table. Originally designed by George Nelson in 1954, with this particular example was produced by Herman Miller in the USA in the 2000s. The table is c...
Aluminum
Pedestal Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller, USA, 1954
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pedestal side table designed in 1954 by George Nelson for Herman Miller, USA. Veneered wood top with polished aluminum base. See our other matching large table with white laminate top.
Aluminum
Herman Miller George Nelson (AO2) Drafting Table
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Pasadena, TX
Herman Miller George Nelson (AO2) Drafting Table Offered is a rare original design classic rarity, the desk Action Office 1. Model 64 902. Designed in...
Metal, Aluminum
Pair of Early George Nelson Herman Miller Occasional Table Walnut
By George Nelson
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An early side table by George Nelson for Herman Miller with a steel four prong base. Walnut bentwood top. This design was made for a short period in the 1950's. This table has a bea...
Walnut
Sold
H 22.05 in Dm 22.45 in
Walnut veneer Pedestal Occ. Coffee Table No 5452, George Nelson, Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
the versatile classic, designed by george nelson in 1954, was initially produced in 2 sizes with black or white legs and table plates made from chipboard, the edge of the table cover...
Aluminum
Sold
H 16.54 in Dm 27.96 in
Special Pedestal Occasional Coffee Table No. 5452, George Nelson, Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
the versatile classic, designed by george nelson in 1954, was initially produced in 2 sizes with black or white legs and table plates made from chipboard, the edge of the table cover...
Metal
Side Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in bruxelles, BE
Table with white wooden top and metal base designed by George Nelson and produced by Herman Miller in the 1960s. Wear due to time and age of the table.
Metal
Original Swag Leg Pedestal Table by George Nelson
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in San Francisco, CA
An original swag leg side table by George Nelson for Herman Miller with a black table laminate top and wood trim on a polished aluminum base #5451.
Aluminum
Sold
H 19 in W 24 in D 17 in
George Nelson Herman Miller Walnut Top Ebonized Base Rectangle Side Table Mint!
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Refinished Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Herman Miller walnut top ebonized base rectangle side table mint!
Walnut
Pair Herman Miller Side Tables by George Nelson
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Trenton, NJ
This stunning pair of midcentury side tables by George Nelson for Herman Miller make a striking vintage addition to home or business seatin...
Leather, Glass, Wood