George Nelson for Herman Miller Coconut Chair and Ottoman, 1950s
View Similar Items
George Nelson for Herman Miller Coconut Chair and Ottoman, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:George Nelson (Designer),Herman Miller (Manufacturer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 41 in (104.14 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good condition, newly foamed, showing minor wear to edges.
- Seller Location:Houston, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU85061643792
Coconut Lounge Chair
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 simple as the name suggests: a curved slice of coconut. In addition to the tropical fruit, the sleek chair nods to architect Eero Saarinen’s swerving Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, built in 1953.
Minimal in appearance, the Coconut lounge chair comprises only a few materials: a molded plastic shell, a single leather cushion and a trio of chrome legs. The chair was created in 1955 for Herman Miller, where Nelson served as director of design until 1972. In his studio, Nelson and his designers produced a wealth of hits, including benches, pendant lights and more for Herman Miller and other clients. In his director role, Nelson also supervised a team of now-legendary mid-century modern designers, such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard and others.
Herman Miller founder D.J. De Pree hired Nelson in 1945 after having read about a modular storage system that he conceived with architect Henry Wright — it was featured in a joint editorial project from Life and Architectural Forum. Nelson continued to operate his design studio while at Herman Miller, and today, several of the pieces designed at George Nelson Associates, Inc. are in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, including the Coconut lounge chair.
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.
- George Nelson & Associates for Herman Miller Cabinet Model 5211By George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Houston, TXGeorge Nelson & Associates Miniature cabinet, model 5211 Herman Miller USA, 1950s Walnut, rosewood, enameled steel, laminate, porcelain Measures: 20.25 W × 14 D × 32.25 H in ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut
- Eero Saarinen vintage Womb Chair and Ottoman for KnollBy Knoll, Eero SaarinenLocated in Houston, TXEero Saarinen Knoll International USA 1946 upholstery, painted steel chair: 35 h × 41 w × 35 d inches Vintage Eero Saarinen womb chair and ottoman for Knoll...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Early version Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair and Ottoman for Fritz HansenBy Arne Jacobsen, Fritz HansenLocated in Houston, TXArne Jacobsen Chair and ottoman Fritz Hansen Denmark, 1958 Leather, cast aluminum, plastic 34 d x 32 d x 42 h inches Foil label to base.Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
- Arthur Umanoff Desk Clock, George Nelson & Associates, 1950sBy Howard Miller, George NelsonLocated in Houston, TXGeorge Nelson & Associates table clock. Howard Miller Clock Company, USA. Rosewood, steel. Measures: 4.25 W x 3 D x 5.5 H inches. Signed with decal manufacturer's label t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Clocks
MaterialsSteel
- Afra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana lounge chair and ottoman for CassinaBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Houston, TXAfra and Tobia Scarpa Soriana lounge chair and ottoman Cassina Italy, 1970s leather, chrome-plated steel, plastic chair: 26 h × 36 w × 52 d in ottoman: 15 h × 31 w × 36 d in Match...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
- Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier LC3 lounge chair for CassinaBy Cassina, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand CassinaLocated in Houston, TXCharlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier LC3 lounge chair Cassina France / Italy, 1928 / c. 1995 mohair, chrome-plated steel 24 h × 39 w × 29 d inCategory
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- George Nelson For Herman Miller First Generation Coconut Chair and OttomanBy George NelsonLocated in Seattle, WAThe Coconut chair was designed in 1955 by the American architect, industrial designer, author, editor and teacher George Nelson. Unlike the later editions, the first generation has a...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Early Herman Miller Coconut Chair Designed by George Nelson in 1956By George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Offenburg, Baden WurthembergEarly Herman Miller Coconut lounge chair. Manufactured ca. in 1960. Upholstery in brown fabric, coated shell from bent steel, chromed plated ste...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Coconut Chair by George Nelson for Vitra, 1950sBy Vitra, George NelsonLocated in Antwerp, BEIntroducing the Coconut Chair by George Nelson for Vitra, an iconic piece of modern design that combines comfort, elegance, an...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsChrome
- Rare & Original George Nelson Steel Frame Lounge Chairs Pair Herman Miller 1950sBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Philadelphia, PASuper rare! George Nelson for Herman Miller steel frame chairs, model 5080 Easy Lounge Chairs. Original painted frames with solid wood arms. Orig...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- George Nelson Coconut Chair and OttomanBy George NelsonLocated in Los Angeles, CALeather chair and ottoman with metal base.Category
Vintage 1950s Lounge Chairs
Price Upon Request - George Nelson for Herman Miller White Swag Chair, One ChairBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Basel, BSAbsolutely stunning gorgeous and iconic George Nelson Herman Miller Swag chair in white. Originally c.1950s. This chair is an authentic Herman Miller stampe...Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsChrome
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
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.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.