George Nelson for Herman Miller Daybed Sofa
View Similar Items
George Nelson for Herman Miller Daybed Sofa
About the Item
- Creator:Herman Miller (Cabinetmaker),George Nelson (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 93.5 in (237.49 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)Seat Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950-1959
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Phoenix, AZ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU853213190361
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, as well as its competitor, the Howard Miller Clock Company. 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 these pages, 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.
- Eames for Herman Miller Time Life Walnut StoolBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Phoenix, AZCharles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller time life stool, circa mid-1960s. This solid walnut example has incredible graining and has been newly detai...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsWalnut
- La Fonda Chairs by Eames for Herman Miller with Peter Max FabricBy Herman MillerLocated in Phoenix, AZPair of La Fonda chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller circa mid 1960s. These seldom seen examples have white powder coated La Fonda bases and have been upholstered in a playful psychedelic dead stock Peter Max fabric...Category
Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Early Mid-Century Florence Knoll Sofa with Magazine HolderBy Florence KnollLocated in Phoenix, AZFlorence Knoll for Knoll Associates sofa with built in magazine holder, circa early 1950s. This example is upholstered in a pumpernickel Knoll boucle which pops beautifully next to t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWalnut
- Sculptural Sofa in Walnut & Bouclé by Henry Glass, 1960'sBy Henry GlassLocated in Phoenix, AZHenry Glass 1960s 'Intimate Island' walnut and upholstered bouclé sofa. This exquisite piece has been expertly refinished and upholstered in an off-white Turkish bouclé. Red Modern a...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBouclé, Walnut
- Phenomenal Saporiti Stainless Steel & Mercedes Leather SofaBy SaporitiLocated in Phoenix, AZAll original Saporiti stainless steel and special ordered perforated Mercedes leather 'Wave' sofa by Giovanno Offreddi. This is the nicest example of this sofa that we have ever seen...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Sofas
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Eliel Saarinen for Johnson 1940s Chests of DrawersBy Johnson Furniture Company, Eliel SaarinenLocated in Phoenix, AZEliel Saarinen for Johnson Furniture Company chests of drawers circa 1948. These seldom seen examples have sculptural S-shaped legs, formed aluminum handles and beautifully grained b...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsAluminum
$5,800 / item
- George Nelson Daybed Sofa in Blue Checker Reupholstery by Alexander GirardBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Berlin, DEGeorge Nelson daybed for Herman Miller in newly upholstered Alexander Girard Maharam "Checker" fabric. George Nelson and Alexander Girard were both A...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Wood
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century SofaBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Countryside, ILGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Sofa This sofa measures: 82 wide x 33 deep x 29 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and ar...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Sofa in Off-White UpholsteryBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Waalwijk, NLGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa, chrome-plated metal, fabric, United States, 1960s This fine sofa is designed by the renowned American furniture designer George Nelson. This s...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- George Nelson Modular Sofa Table System Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated 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 Midcentury Leather and Chrome Sling SofaBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Countryside, ILGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller midcentury Leather and Chrome Sling Sofa This sofa measures: 87 wide x 32 deep x 29 inches high, with a seat heigh...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Sofa in Light Brown Patterned UpholsteryBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Waalwijk, NLGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa, model ‘5671’, fabric, metal, designed in 1955 and produced in 1956-78. This wonderful midcentury sofa is designed by the renowned American ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
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.