Vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller Coconut Lounge Chair
View Similar Items
Vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller Coconut Lounge Chair
About the Item
- Creator:George Nelson (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 41 in (104.14 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)Seat Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Needs reupholstery.
- Seller Location:Southampton, NJ
- Reference Number:Seller: george nelson coconut chair1stDibs: LU156626662513
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.
- Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus Collection Lounge ChairBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Southampton, NJJanus Collection lounge chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Ebonized sculpted walnut arms and legs with an exposed frame, and red upholstery with a button tufted back and curved seat...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- 1950's Edward Wormley Dunbar Lounge ChairBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Southampton, NJ1950s armchair designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar fully restored with new tribal influenced and textured cotton upholstery. The original signed Dunbar decking has been carefully m...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCotton, Walnut
$3,840 Sale Price20% Off - Adrian Pearsall Mid Century 2249-C Walnut Lounge Chairs - PairBy Adrian Pearsall, Craft AssociatesLocated in Southampton, NJSculptural Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs Model 2249-C designed by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates in the United States, circa 1960s. This elegant and ergonomic lounge chair f...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Iron Lounge Chair & Ottoman Set Attr: Dan Johnson Circa 1950By Dan JohnsonLocated in Southampton, NJA beautiful mid-century lounge chair & ottoman set having solid black iron frames with mahogany paddle arms newly upholstered in thick boucle’ fabric attributed to Dan Johnson. North...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsIron
$3,000 Sale Price / set20% Off - Scandinavian Modern Wingback Lounge Chair After Aksel Bender MadsenBy Aksel Bender MadsenLocated in Southampton, NJScandinavian Modern wingback armchair featuring the style of Aksel Bender Madsen. This chair has a solid teak frame, which has a nice open character backrest adorned in a beautiful l...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLinen, Teak, Plywood
- Bjork Lafer Black Leather Recliner Reclining Lounge Chair -BrazilBy LaferLocated in Southampton, NJThe ‘Bjork’ chair by Lafer of Brazil. Sleek streamlined design combined with supple leather and smooth diverse reclining function make this an incredibly ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$1,160 Sale Price20% Off
- 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
- George Nelson "Coconut" Lounge Chair for VitraBy George NelsonLocated in Edmonton, ABThis iconic midcentury modern lounge chair was designed by George Nelson in 1956. This chair is a recent production.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Vintage MCM George Nelson 5476 Lounge Chair for Herman Miller Fuchsia FabricBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Topeka, KSHandsome vintage MCM (a.k.a.) Mid-Century Modern 5476 lounge chair designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Comprised of a walnut frame and fuchsia fabric. Beautiful condition, k...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
$1,836 Sale Price20% Off - 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
- Open-Arm Ebonized Lounge Chair by George Nelson for Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Dorchester, MADesigned by George Nelson for Herman Miller, this rare lounge chair, model 4774, features an open ebonized birch frame. Its strong rectangular lines acce...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Birch
- Iconic George Nelson ‘Coconut’ Lounge ChairBy Vitra, George NelsonLocated in Waalwijk, NLGeorge Nelson, ‘Coconut’ lounge chair, fiberglass, leather upholstery, steel, United States, design 1955, later production The ‘Coconut’ lounge chair is one of George Nelson’s iconi...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
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.
Kule and Forsyth Give Iconic Furniture a Bold Makeover with Stripes
Maggie and Anne Genovese, of Forsyth, teamed up with fashion designer Nikki Kule to reimagine some classic pieces.