George Nelson, Modular Sofa and Table Seating System, 1966 for Herman Miller
About the Item
- Creator:Herman Miller (Manufacturer),George Nelson (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 27.96 in (71 cm)Width: 120.48 in (306 cm)Depth: 29.93 in (76 cm)Seat Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1966
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Munster, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1391221033522
Nelson Daybed
Like many modernists, George Nelson (1908–86) relished design that solved a problem. And there’s probably no more common design problem than not having enough space. A daybed, the Connecticut-born writer, architect and furniture maker reasoned, is “ideal for the bedroom that has to double as a sitting room.” Nelson’s versatile design — particularly with its slim profile and unassuming legs — fits neatly into a compact space, both in its small square footage and its quiet presence.
Nelson conceived an early version of the daybed for use in his own home in 1941. By 1948, he had perfected the design and presented it to Herman Miller, where Nelson had been director of design since 1947. The furniture maker has called his work as a designer “to do much more with much less,” and the final design for his daybed is the culmination of one of Nelson’s trademark efforts to simplify to the greatest degree.
A single, honed wood platform is supported by four graceful legs, either in wood or a more industrial-looking brushed-steel hairpin. Atop this basic frame rests a boxy foam cushion; side bolsters, which are removable for the quick transition from sofa to bed, are optional.
Nelson famously referred to his moments of creative inspiration as “zaps” — though the term appears to imply immediate, fully formed ideas, the daybed proves that sometimes a moment of genius is really the distillation of a long period of perfecting that idea.
The Nelson daybed is still manufactured by Herman Miller today.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Munster, Germany
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- De Sede DS-15 Modular Sofa Neck Leather Brown 1970 Sectional Swiss Mid CenturyBy De SedeLocated in Munster, NRWDe Sede - DS-15 modular sofa in Neck leather, Switzerland, manufactured in the 1970s. This high quality sectional sofa, designed by De Sede in the 1970s, consists of 2 regular ele...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Luigi Colani Modular Orbis Sofa Table 1969 for COR Germany Orange VelvetBy COR, Luigi ColaniLocated in Munster, NRWLuigi Colani, 1969 for COR, Germany - modular Orbis sofa with original orange-red needle velvet. The fabric has a very pleasant feel, get an impression fro...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsPlywood
- Togo Sofa Michel Ducaroy Ligne Roset Black Leather France Mid Century ModernBy Michel Ducaroy, Ligne RosetLocated in Munster, NRWThis Togo living landscape sofa was designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1974. Made by Ligne Roset about 1990 in France, stunning beautiful original co...Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- De Sede Terrazza Sofa Cognac Leather Ubald Klug Ueli Berger 1972 Mid CenturyBy Ubald Klug, Ueli Berger, De SedeLocated in Munster, NRW2x De Sede Terrazza sofas, model DS 1025 in cognac leather. Designed in 1972 by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger for De Sede, Switzerland. Sophisticated design sofa elements form the perfec...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- De Sede Sofa DS 600 Snake Ueli Berger & Riva 1972 Brown Leather 12 ElementsBy De Sede, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, and Ueli BergerLocated in Munster, NRWDe Sede DS 600. Design by Ueli bergere, Eleonore Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, Klaus Vogt, 1972. Modulable endless high class leather sofa. 12 elements in brown leather. Good vintage ...Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Felt
- Cor Trio Modular Sofa Giant Landscape Brown Chocolate 1972 by Team Form AGBy Team Form AG, Cor Rheda WiedenbrückLocated in Munster, NRWCOR trio modular sofa, huge living area in its original chocolate-brown teddy fabric - designed in 1972 by Franz Hero and Karl Odermatt Team Form Ag, Switzerland. The modular sofa s...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Modular Set of Sofas and Side TableBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Waalwijk, NLGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa model ‘5671’, side table, fabric, metal, designed in 1955 and produced in 1956-78. This wonderful set is designed by the renowned American fur...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- George Nelson Modular Sofa Table System Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Berlin, BEModular Sofa by George Nelson with a strong metal structure including chrome-plated feet. Two vintage grey upholstered Seats with buttoned backrests and a square Formica side-table t...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Modular Steel Frame 2-Piece Seating & Table 60sBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Keego Harbor, MIA sleek and minimal modular steel frame 2-piece seating system and tables by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Circa 1960s. Sleek and functional design with built in laminate white ta...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Herman Miller George Nelson Modular Seating Cognac Natural Leather SofaBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Munich, BavariaThis living room set model modular sofa was designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. This set was completely re -upholstered in high premium cognac Natural leather. It has a soft...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- George Nelson Modular Sofa by Herman Miller, 1966By Herman MillerLocated in Los Angeles, CAGeorge Nelson modular sofa by Herman Miller, 1966.Category
20th Century American Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- Modular Sofa Seating, Gerogen Nelson for Herman Miller, covered in Dedar fabricBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DE“design is a response to social change“ george nelson said, the director of design with office furniture manufacturer herman miller. economic growth and larger companies lead to rapi...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.