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George Nelson Thin Edge Rosewood Dresser 4 Drawers
By George Nelson
Located in Seattle, WA
A George Nelson four-drawer Thin Edge rosewood dresser, circa 1955. This stunning piece has dynamic, rich rosewood graining, four drawers, original porcelain pulls, and iconic Thin E...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
Thin Edge Walnut Dresser with Cabinet by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Dorchester, MA
This gorgeous dresser is part of George Nelson's 1950s Thin Edge collection for Herman Miller, which takes its name from the elegant, slim profile. Tapered trestle legs elevate the w...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
1970’s George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Tall Chest
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We recently acquired a set of George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge chests out of an estate. They are vintage 1970’s and still each retain the Herman Miller Label. Please see our other li...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Rosewood
George Nelson Thin Edge Group Double Dresser, Walnut, Herman Miller, 2017, USA.
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
George Nelson thin edge double dresser, chest, Walnut, Herman Miller.
In 1944, Life magazine published an extensive article detailing the “Storage Wall”, George Nelson’s novel archi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
George Nelson for Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Cabinet/Gentleman's Chest
By George Nelson
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare and unique George Nelson Thin Edge bar cabinet in Rosewood, with built in light box mirror and electric plug, circa 1970s. The cabinet can be used as a vanity table, with five...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Rosewood, Plywood
George Nelson for Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Series Credenza/Cabinet
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare Rosewood Thin Edge credenza/cabinet designed by George Nelson, Produced by Herman Miller in 1950s, with 5 drawers (1 hidden behind the door) and two shelves. Applied foil manu...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Materials
Metal
George Nelson Thin Edge Twin Bed for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson design "Thin Edge" twin bed for Herman Miller, circa 1955. Made from solid birch on an enameled steel frame and twin sized cane headboard, In very good original conditi...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Enamel
George Nelson Thin Edge Group Dresser, Double, Santos Palisander, Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
George Nelson thin edge double dresser, chest, Santos Palisander, Herman Miller.
In 1944, Life magazine published an extensive article...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Dressers
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
George Nelson Thin Edge Nightstands for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson Thin Edge nightstands for Herman Miller. Iconic design for Nelson's Thin Edge series produced by Herman Miller, Michigan U.S....
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Materials
Stainless Steel
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson Thin Edge Group eight drawer dresser for Herman Miller.
Made with high quality construction and detail in Brazilian rosewood and oak with drawer dividers to help with ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Dressers
By George Nelson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Thin edge dressers by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Porcelain handles and metal legs.
Dressers have been refinished.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
Two "Thin Edge" Chest by George Nelson
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Denton, TX
"Thin Edge" chest of drawers by George Nelson for Herman Miller.
These make nice nightstands
Measures: cabinet 1. 19.5" deep by 34" wide by 33.25" high
cabinet 2. 19.5" Deep by 24...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
1970’s George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Long Dresser
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We recently acquired a set of George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge chests out of an estate. They are vintage 1970’s and still each retain the Herman Miller Label. Please see our other li...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Rosewood
George Nelson Walnut Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson design "Thin Edge" group walnut dresser for Herman Miller. High quality construction and materials featuring 10 drawers with dividers. Newly refinished and ready to ins...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
Pr. Mid Century George Nelson Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Bachelors Chests
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite matched pair of George Nelson designed four drawer Thin Edge dressers, executed in Rosewood, for Herman Miller circa 1950's. These chests are in very good, original, clean...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson for Herman Miller Five Drawer Dresser Thin Edge Rosewood c. 1950's
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Mid Century masterpiece, five drawer thin edge dresser designed by recognized master of the idiom, George Nelson, for Herman Miller, circa 1950's. Part of the hard to find, a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
Teak Thin Edge Double Dresser with Vanity by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Dorchester, MA
Part of the Thin Edge series that George Nelson designed for Herman Miller in the 1950s, this wonderful set comprises two dressers in a tawny walnut on either side of a suspended van...
Category
Vintage 1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Porcelain, Teak
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4 drawer Dresser by Herman Miller #1
By George Nelson
Located in San Diego, CA
A rosewood Thin Edge dresser designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller with exquisite rosewood grain and early original white porcelain handles.
The George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4-drawer Dresser, crafted by Herman Miller, epitomizes the timeless elegance and functional sophistication synonymous with mid-century modern design. This dresser stands as an iconic piece within the George Nelson collection, renowned for its clean lines, minimalist aesthetic, and impeccable craftsmanship. This particular example boasts exquisite rosewood grain and early original white porcelain handles.
Constructed from rich rosewood veneer, the dresser boasts a warm, organic hue that exudes luxury and refinement. Its slender profile and thin edges create an illusion of lightness, enhancing the overall sense of modernity and grace. The 4 spacious drawers feature seamless integration of hardware, maintaining the dresser's sleek appearance while providing ample storage space for clothing, linens, or personal belongings.
Each detail of the George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge series reflects an unwavering commitment to both form and function. Its timeless design transcends trends, making it a versatile addition to any interior decor scheme, from minamalist to post-modern. Whether used in a bedroom, living area, or office space, this dresser elevates the ambiance with its understated elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship, showcasing the enduring legacy of George Nelson's visionary design ethos.
About the Designer:
Not everyone thinks of George Nelson when they think “Modernism”—but they should. Here’s why:
Looking at the outset of George Nelson’s career, few would have guessed that his legacy would crown him as one of the most influential individuals in Modernism—story has it that the young Ivy Leaguer stumbled into the Yale School of Architecture seeking shelter from the rain, and only then did he consider studying design. His legacy, though, would be one that touched nearly every corner of American Modernism as we think of it today.
As an architect, author, furniture designer, graphic designer, exhibition designer, teacher, amateur photographer, and general provocateur, George Nelson shaped the course of design in America for over four decades.
After completing his two Bachelor’s degrees (one in architecture, the other in fine arts), Nelson went on to accept a traveling fellowship in Rome, which interfaced him with figures like Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Gio Ponti all of which he interviewed forPencil Point, bringing the European vanguard to the attention of the magazine’s American readership.
At this point in his career, Nelson had devoted himself to writing, joining Architectural Forum as its first associate editor in 1935.
For nearly a decade, Nelson’s post as an editor brought him face-to-face with many of the leaders of the Modernism movement in the U.S., and through these exchanges, his own stance in the design world began to solidify. For Nelson, the purpose of design was to improve the world in accordance with the laws of nature—and while he hadn’t yet done much designing himself, he was busy teasing out the theoretical details of architecture. In 1940, Nelson co-authored Tomorrow’s House with Henry Wright, and the book went on to be a great commercial success, introducing concepts like the “family room,” and more broadly assuming a solutions-based perspective for architectural design.
It wasn’t long before the book earned him the favorable attention of D.J. Depree, the chairman of Herman Miller the American furniture manufacture. Despite Nelson’s inexperience in furniture design, Depree saw potential in the writer’s approach to the industry: solutions-oriented design with a practical lean. Nelson became the company’s Director of Design in 1947, under the condition that he be allowed to continue his work outside of the company.
From 1947 to 1972, Nelson oversaw the design department at Herman Miller, bringing in the icons that would shape some of the most memorable pieces of mid-century design, from such people as Ray and Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to Richard Schultz, Donald Knorr, and Isamu Noguchi.
Beginning in the mid-1950s, Nelson’s own design firm began its work in earnest, producing furniture and pioneering a ubiquitous incorporation of design, bringing that same consideration for pragmatism and aesthetics to advertising and marketing materials, image management, and graphic programs. His own firm incorporated in 1955, tapping many of the same designers from the Herman Miller roster for collaborations under George Nelson Associates, Inc.
It was during this period of Nelson’s life and career that many of his most iconic designs came onto the scene—many will be instantly familiar furniture silhouettes that perhaps you didn’t know sprung from George Nelson himself.
Designing his first collection in 1945 and appointed design director in 1947, Nelson quickly expanded his purview and transformed the company. Confirming De Pree’s early assessment of Nelson as someone “thinking well ahead of the parade,” he redesigned everything from Herman Miller’s product line to its graphics and marketing and advertising materials. Over the course of his long association with Herman Miller, Nelson designed hundreds of pieces of furniture and recruited other designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi, now all widely acknowledged as some of the brightest talents of the time.
Nelson developed his own designs—from furniture to architecture, and exhibitions to graphics—in his New York City studio, known variously over the years as George Nelson, George Nelson & Associates, and George Nelson and Company. The staff included significant designers in their own right such as Irving Harper, George Mulhauser, Ernest Farmer, Gordon Chadwick, George Tscherny...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson for Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Group Dresser
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Spectacular rosewood Thin Edge collection model 5221 eight-drawer dresser, designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Drawer fronts show off gorgeous figured rosewood selection, fi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Rosewood
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Dresser
By George Nelson
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson design rosewood thin edge tall chest for Herman Miller. Featuring five drawers, two with fitted dividers on aluminum legs and original...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
Pair George Nelson Thin Edge Rosewood Chests
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in New York, NY
Pair of George Nelson thin edge chests or nightstands. The items are rosewood veneer with four pull-out drawers and metal legs.
Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal
George Nelson Thin Edge Dresser in Rosewood & Porcelain by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Stamford, CT
The great George Nelson left us with a massive portfolio of forward thinking design which Herman Miller has largely kept alive to this day. Nelson became design director for Herman M...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
GEORGE NELSON THIN EDGE CHEST / Cabinet for HERMAN MILLER. Classic Modernist
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nice early George Nelson 'Thin Edge' chest of drawers with classic aluminum pulls and walnut or mahogany veneer. Divided drawers,,, Produced in the 1950s & 1960s by Herman Miller, ...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson for Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Group Dresser
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Spectacular rosewood Thin Edge collection model 5221 eight-drawer dresser, designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Drawer fronts show off gorgeous figured rosewood selection, fi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Rosewood
George Nelson Thin Edge Group dresser for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson design Thin Edge Group dresser for Herman Miller. Sophisticated looking and very functional as a daily dresser. Comprising four smaller drawers across the top and three...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An eight-drawer double dresser from George Nelson’s Thin Edge collection for Herman Miller. Design features the slender rosewood case for which the series was named and a double stac...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Thin-Edge Tall Dresser in Rosewood & Porcelain by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Stamford, CT
The great George Nelson left us with a massive portfolio of forward thinking design which Herman Miller has largely kept alive to this day. Nelson became design director for Herman M...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Rosewood "Thin Edge" Chests
By George Nelson
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of original grain matched George Nelson design rosewood "Thin Edge" chests for Herman Miller. Very good original condition, labeled.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Rosewood
Amazing Thin Edge Sideboard by George Nelson
By George Nelson
Located in Munich, DE
Wonderful mirrored rosewood veneer.
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Related Items
George Nelson Thin Edge Group Dresser, Double, Santos Palisander, Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
George Nelson thin edge double dresser, chest, Santos Palisander, Herman Miller.
In 1944, Life magazine published an extensive article...
Category
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Materials
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H 29 in W 67 in D 18.5 in
George Nelson, Rosewood Jewelry Box, 1950s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
George Nelson, Rosewood Jewelry cabinet, 1950s
In the 1950s, Nelson designed a range of furniture which was produced and retailed by Herman Miller. This is the rare eight drawer j...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
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George Nelson Herman Miller Basic Series Gentleman's Cabinet Dresser
By George Nelson
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic George Nelson for Herman Miller, basic series cabinet with 5 drawers on one side and a gentleman's wardrobe on the other. This is an uncommon version in oak. Newly redone p...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
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George Nelson Thin Edge Secretary Desk Cabinet for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Lake Worth, FL
1950s original Thin Edge secretary desk cabinet designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. This early version features the rare black enamel stainless large pulls and tapered wood feet. Cabinet on the right includes an adjustable shelf and 2 drawers. Pull down desk is covered with black leather and features 5 drawers on the left side with original small white porcelain George Nelson drawer pulls...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Credenza / Cabinet in Oak by George Nelson for Herman Miller, USA, c. 1950's
By George Nelson
Located in Deland, FL
Embrace the iconic mid-century modern style with this exquisite credenza designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, part of the esteemed Basic Cabinet Series, crafted in the USA circa 1950s. Constructed from comb grain oak, this piece stands out with its original black painted tapered legs, a unique feature of Nelson's designs. The front-facing cabinet boasts two doors with curved steel cabinet...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Materials
Steel
H 29.75 in W 56.5 in D 18 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Low Walnut Credenza
By George Nelson
Located in Denton, TX
Rare Glass sliding doors on a walnut display cabinet with adjustable shelves.
Chrome legs with original Domes of silence glides.
The Herman Miller badge is missing, please see pictur...
Category
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Materials
Chrome
Pair of George Nelson Design for Herman Miller Chests / Dressers / Commodes
By George Nelson
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Mid-Century Modern George Nelson design for Herman Miller chests / dressers / commodes. Signed with labels this pair of side by side and all drawer chests have mahogany fro...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
H 39.5 in W 40 in D 18.5 in
Stunning Rosewood Cabinet / credenza designed by George Nelson / Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning Rosewood Cabinet / credenza designed by George Nelson / Herman Miller.. Ebonized wood frame and back with an amazing figured rosewood case,Four drawers , including two file ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
H 29 in W 74.5 in D 20 in
George Nelson Herman Miller Miniature Chest # 5215
By George Nelson
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Unusual version of the George Nelson miniature/jewelry chest #5215. This one features the white formica on the bottom of the case not the top as is more typical. Teak wood constructi...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Vintage Walnut George Nelson 5 Drawer Dresser for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Walnut Basic Cabinet Series 5 Drawer Dresser by George Nelson for Herman Miller. features the uncommon cupcake drawer pulls. the drawer boxes have been remade and outfit...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
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Teak Thin Edge Double Dresser with Vanity by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Dorchester, MA
Part of the Thin Edge series that George Nelson designed for Herman Miller in the 1950s, this wonderful set comprises two dressers in a tawny walnut on either side of a suspended van...
Category
Vintage 1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
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H 27.5 in W 88 in D 18.5 in
1970’s George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Long Dresser
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We recently acquired a set of George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge chests out of an estate. They are vintage 1970’s and still each retain the Herman Miller Label. Please see our other li...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
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Previously Available Items
Rosewood Thin Edge Cabinet by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Signed..
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Kansas City, MO
Original George Nelson for Herman Miller Brazilian Rosewood Thin Edge storage cabinet. Two doors with porcelain pulls and on cast aluminum legs. The figuring in the rosewood on this ...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Aluminum
Classic Modernist 8 Drawer Thin Edge Dresser / sideboard by George Nelson
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Modernist 8 Drawer Thin Edge Dresser / sideboard by George Nelson..Newer production,, originally designed in 1952.. Looks as contemporary today as the day it was designed.. 8...
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Steel
George Nelson Thin Edge Chest No. 1
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Cambridge, US
USA, ca. 1950s. A scarce chest or bureau from George Nelson’s Thin Edge Group for Herman Miller. Originally introduced as the Storagewall concept in 1945, the Thin Edge Group was for...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Thin Edge Chest No. 2
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Cambridge, US
USA, ca. 1950s. A scarce medium-size chest from George Nelson’s Thin Edge Group for Herman Miller. Originally introduced as the Storagewall concept in 1945, the Thin Edge Group was f...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Thin Edge Chest No. 3
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Cambridge, US
USA, ca. 1950s. A scarce petite chest from George Nelson’s Thin Edge Group for Herman Miller. Originally introduced as the Storagewall concept in 1945, the Thin Edge Group was formal...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4 drawer Dresser by Herman Miller #2
By George Nelson
Located in San Diego, CA
A rosewood thin edge chest designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller with exquisite rosewood grain and early original white porcelain handles.
The George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4-drawer Dresser, crafted by Herman Miller, epitomizes the timeless elegance and functional sophistication synonymous with mid-century modern design. This dresser stands as an iconic piece within the George Nelson collection, renowned for its clean lines, minimalist aesthetic, and impeccable craftsmanship. This particular example boasts exquisite rosewood grain and early original white porcelain handles.
Constructed from rich rosewood veneer, the dresser boasts a warm, organic hue that exudes luxury and refinement. Its slender profile and thin edges create an illusion of lightness, enhancing the overall sense of modernity and grace. The 4 spacious drawers feature seamless integration of hardware, maintaining the dresser's sleek appearance while providing ample storage space for clothing, linens, or personal belongings.
Each detail of the George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge series reflects an unwavering commitment to both form and function. Its timeless design transcends trends, making it a versatile addition to any interior decor scheme, from minamalist to post-modern. Whether used in a bedroom, living area, or office space, this dresser elevates the ambiance with its understated elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship, showcasing the enduring legacy of George Nelson's visionary design ethos.
About the Designer:
Not everyone thinks of George Nelson when they think “Modernism”—but they should. Here’s why:
Looking at the outset of George Nelson’s career, few would have guessed that his legacy would crown him as one of the most influential individuals in Modernism—story has it that the young Ivy Leaguer stumbled into the Yale School of Architecture seeking shelter from the rain, and only then did he consider studying design. His legacy, though, would be one that touched nearly every corner of American Modernism as we think of it today.
As an architect, author, furniture designer, graphic designer, exhibition designer, teacher, amateur photographer, and general provocateur, George Nelson shaped the course of design in America for over four decades.
After completing his two Bachelor’s degrees (one in architecture, the other in fine arts), Nelson went on to accept a traveling fellowship in Rome, which interfaced him with figures like Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, and Gio Ponti all of which he interviewed forPencil Point, bringing the European vanguard to the attention of the magazine’s American readership.
At this point in his career, Nelson had devoted himself to writing, joining Architectural Forum as its first associate editor in 1935.
For nearly a decade, Nelson’s post as an editor brought him face-to-face with many of the leaders of the Modernism movement in the U.S., and through these exchanges, his own stance in the design world began to solidify. For Nelson, the purpose of design was to improve the world in accordance with the laws of nature—and while he hadn’t yet done much designing himself, he was busy teasing out the theoretical details of architecture. In 1940, Nelson co-authored Tomorrow’s House with Henry Wright, and the book went on to be a great commercial success, introducing concepts like the “family room,” and more broadly assuming a solutions-based perspective for architectural design.
It wasn’t long before the book earned him the favorable attention of D.J. Depree, the chairman of Herman Miller the American furniture manufacture. Despite Nelson’s inexperience in furniture design, Depree saw potential in the writer’s approach to the industry: solutions-oriented design with a practical lean. Nelson became the company’s Director of Design in 1947, under the condition that he be allowed to continue his work outside of the company.
From 1947 to 1972, Nelson oversaw the design department at Herman Miller, bringing in the icons that would shape some of the most memorable pieces of mid-century design, from such people as Ray and Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to Richard Schultz, Donald Knorr, and Isamu Noguchi.
Beginning in the mid-1950s, Nelson’s own design firm began its work in earnest, producing furniture and pioneering a ubiquitous incorporation of design, bringing that same consideration for pragmatism and aesthetics to advertising and marketing materials, image management, and graphic programs. His own firm incorporated in 1955, tapping many of the same designers from the Herman Miller roster for collaborations under George Nelson Associates, Inc.
It was during this period of Nelson’s life and career that many of his most iconic designs came onto the scene—many will be instantly familiar furniture silhouettes that perhaps you didn’t know sprung from George Nelson himself.
Designing his first collection in 1945 and appointed design director in 1947, Nelson quickly expanded his purview and transformed the company. Confirming De Pree’s early assessment of Nelson as someone “thinking well ahead of the parade,” he redesigned everything from Herman Miller’s product line to its graphics and marketing and advertising materials. Over the course of his long association with Herman Miller, Nelson designed hundreds of pieces of furniture and recruited other designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi, now all widely acknowledged as some of the brightest talents of the time.
Nelson developed his own designs—from furniture to architecture, and exhibitions to graphics—in his New York City studio, known variously over the years as George Nelson, George Nelson & Associates, and George Nelson and Company. The staff included significant designers in their own right such as Irving Harper, George Mulhauser, Ernest Farmer, Gordon Chadwick, George Tscherny...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
This George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Double Dresser for Herman Miller is as elegant and extraordinary as it comes. Newly refinished 10 drawer dresser with original aluminum pulls on...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Chest of Drawers
By George Nelson
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
George Nelson was a prominent American industrial designer known for his contributions to mid-20th century modern design. He worked as the design director for Herman Miller, a renown...
Category
Mid-20th Century Central American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Rosewood George Nelson for Herman Miller Twin Headboard
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful vintage Rosewood twin headboard. designed by George Nelson as part of the thin edge line for Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Rosewood
Early George Nelson Thin Edge Sideboard / Credenza / Buffet for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Hudson, NY
Hard to find version in very good original condition. George Nelson Design for Herman Miller "Thin Edge" sideboard. This is a stunning early example in walnut. Designed as a sideboa...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Buffets
Materials
Stainless Steel
H 33.5 in W 80 in D 18.5 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Thin Edge Rosewood Two Door Cabinet
By George Nelson
Located in Seattle, WA
An two door designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, in Brazilian rosewood with its original white porcelain pulls and classic Thin Edge aluminum legs. The cabinet has one inner ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Porcelain, Rosewood
George Nelson for Herman Miller Thin Edge Rosewood 8 Drawer Dresser
By George Nelson
Located in Seattle, WA
An 8 drawer dresser designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, in Brazilian rosewood with its original white porcelain pulls and classic Thin Edge aluminum legs. The front drawers ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Porcelain, Rosewood
More George Nelson Designs

Thin Edge Group
Average Price
$9,801
Number Available
29
Thin Edge Group
Materials
Wood, Metal, Rosewood, Aluminum
Styles
Mid Century Modern

Basic Cabinet Series
Average Price
$5,021
Number Available
11
Basic Cabinet Series
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Styles
Mid Century Modern

George Nelson Pedestal Table
Average Price
$1,288
Number Available
10
George Nelson Pedestal Table
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Laminate, Wood
Styles
Mid Century Modern

Coconut Lounge Chair
Average Price
$4,073
Number Available
9
Coconut Lounge Chair
Materials
Metal, Animal Skin, Chrome, Leather, Fiberglass, Plastic, Steel
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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...