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Nelson Platform Bench
Iconic Designs

Nelson Platform BenchBy George Nelson

About the Design

With its clean lines, sculptural shape and use of organic materials, George Nelson’s Platform bench reflected the American designer’s background in architecture and embodied modernist design. The bench, critical to the Basic Cabinet series he created for Michigan manufacturer Herman Miller — his first collection for the maker — demonstrates Nelson’s enthusiasm for honest, pared-down design.

Nelson (1908–86) grew up in Connecticut and studied architecture at Yale University. While on a post-grad fellowship in Rome, he interviewed numerous pioneering modernist designers, such as Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and more for profiles that were published in American architecture journal Pencil Points. Nelson subsequently lectured at Yale and secured prominent architectural commissions, but his editor roles at Architectural Forum and Fortune magazine proved pivotal to his career. After Herman Miller founder D.J. De Pree caught wind of Nelson’s Storagewall — a modular storage concept codeveloped with architect Henry Wright that was featured in Life and in the pair’s book, Tomorrow’s House — he invited him to design modern furniture for the company.

In 1946, Herman Miller debuted Nelson’s spare and versatile slatted-wood Platform bench. Initially comprising a birch top and ebonized wood legs, the bench’s metal base was integrated as an alternative in 1954. Nelson created his Platform bench for his office at Fortune before it found a home at Herman Miller, where it was marketed as seating, a low table or, per an Irving Harper–designed ad, a “plant rest.” It was discontinued in 1967, but the company reintroduced it in 1994. Today, the Nelson Platform bench is available from Herman Miller as well as Vitra (“Nelson bench”) in various sizes and finishes.

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Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller, early 1950's
Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller, early 1950's

Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller, early 1950's

$4,900

Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller, early 1950's

By Herman Miller, George Nelson

Located in Buffalo, NY

Introduced in 1946, the slat platform bench was one of Nelson's first designs for Herman Miller after becoming their design director. Intended to serve as a table, a seat, or a base for case goods, its countless imitations over the years are a testament to its functionality and popularity. Herman Miller produced them in a range of sizes to meet a variety of needs. This exceptional vintage example is model 4693. At 102” in length, it’s the largest size slat bench Herman Miller...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood, Maple

Early Black George Nelson / Herman Miller Platform Bench. rounded legs
Early Black George Nelson / Herman Miller Platform Bench. rounded legs

Early Black George Nelson / Herman Miller Platform Bench. rounded legs

$2,400

Early Black George Nelson / Herman Miller Platform Bench. rounded legs

By Herman Miller, George Nelson

Located in Buffalo, NY

A classic, original 1950's vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller slat bench. Original ebonized finish with amazing warm patina. Age appropriate wear. throughout.Structurally sound....

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Slat platform bench by George Nelson for Heman Miller
Slat platform bench by George Nelson for Heman Miller

Slat platform bench by George Nelson for Heman Miller

$4,500

Slat platform bench by George Nelson for Heman Miller

By George Nelson, Herman Miller

Located in New York, NY

Slat platform bench designed by George Nelson for Heman Miller. The finger-jointed solid wood lattice surface rests on angular, ebonized legs, creating a light, architectural form. M...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Metal

George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller
George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

$2,200

George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

By Herman Miller, George Nelson

Located in Highland, IN

Introduced in 1946, the slat platform bench was one of Nelson's first designs for Herman Miller after becoming their design director. Intended to serve as a table, a seat, or a base ...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Maple

Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller
Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

$6,500

Extra Long George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller

By George Nelson, Herman Miller

Located in Highland, IN

Introduced in 1946, the slat platform bench was one of Nelson's first designs for Herman Miller after becoming their design director. Intended to serve as a table, a seat, or a base for case goods, its countless imitations over the years are a testament to its functionality and popularity. Herman Miller produced them in a range of sizes to meet a variety of needs. This exceptional vintage example is model 4693. At 102” in length, it’s the largest size slat bench Herman Miller...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Maple

Long Platform Bench, Model 4993, by George Nelson for Herman Miller Early Label
Long Platform Bench, Model 4993, by George Nelson for Herman Miller Early Label

Long Platform Bench, Model 4993, by George Nelson for Herman Miller Early Label

$3,450

Long Platform Bench, Model 4993, by George Nelson for Herman Miller Early Label

By Herman Miller, George Nelson

Located in San Diego, CA

Designed by George Nelson in 1946 as part of his inaugural collection for Herman Miller, the Platform Bench was intended to serve variously as seating, as a low table, or as a base f...

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

George Nelson for Herman Miller Slat Bench
George Nelson for Herman Miller Slat Bench

George Nelson for Herman Miller Slat Bench

$2,350

George Nelson for Herman Miller Slat Bench

By George Nelson, Herman Miller

Located in Astoria, NY

George Nelson for Herman Miller Slat Bench, model 4690, maple slats on ebonized base, label to underside. 14" H x 48" W x 18.5" D. Provenance: An East 87th Street Collection.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches

Materials

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George Nelson Rare Protype Bench / Coffee Table for Herman Miller
George Nelson Rare Protype Bench / Coffee Table for Herman Miller

George Nelson Rare Protype Bench / Coffee Table for Herman Miller

$1,575

George Nelson Rare Protype Bench / Coffee Table for Herman Miller

By George Nelson

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A early and rare Nelson coffee table / bench with white rectangle Laminate top having black legs typical of the Nelson slat bench coffee table. This table was not produced in large n...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

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George Nelson (1908–86) attributed many of his design breakthroughs to creative “zaps.” He described such moments as “when the solitary individual finds he is connected with a reality he never dreamed of.” The Coconut lounge chair can certainly be traced back to one such “zap.”The inspiration for the piece — which evolved from an idea presented by George Mulhauser, a designer who worked at Nelson’s Manhattan studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., and is now credited with the concept — was as...
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