George Nelson Sling Sofa by Herman Miller
View Similar Items
George Nelson Sling Sofa by Herman Miller
About the Item
- Creator:George Nelson (Designer),Herman Miller (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 87 in (220.98 cm)Depth: 32.25 in (81.92 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Highland, IN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90913226952
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.
Herman Miller
No other business of its kind did more than the Herman Miller Furniture Company to introduce modern design into American homes. Working with legendary designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Alexander Girard, the Zeeland, Michigan-based firm fostered some of the boldest expressions of what we now call mid-century modern style. In doing so, Herman Miller produced some of the most beautiful, iconic and, one can even say, noblest furniture ever.
Founded in 1923, Herman Miller was originally known for grand historicist bedroom suites: heavily ornamented wood furniture that appealed to a high-minded, wealthier clientele. The company — named for its chief financial backer — began to suffer in the early 1930s as the Great Depression hit, and D.J. De Pree, the company’s CEO, feared bankruptcy. In 1932, aid came in the form of Gilbert Rohde, a self-taught furniture designer who had traveled widely in Europe, absorbing details of the Art Deco movement and other modernist influences. After persuading De Pree that the growing middle-class required smaller, lighter household furnishings, Rohde set a new course for Herman Miller, creating sleek chairs, tables and cabinetry that were the essence of the Streamline Moderne style.
Rohde died suddenly in 1944. The following year, De Pree turned to George Nelson, an architect who had written widely about modern furniture design. Under Nelson’s leadership, Herman Miller would embrace new technologies and materials and audacious biomorphic forms. Some of the pieces the company produced are now emblems of 20th century American design, including the Eames lounge chair and ottoman and Nelson’s Marshmallow sofa and Coconut chair. As you can see on 1stDibs, such instantly recognizable furnishings have become timeless — staples of a modernist décor; striking, offbeat notes in traditional environments.
- George Nelson Modular Group SofaBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThe modular seating group designed by the Nelson office in 1955 is one of our favorite sofa designs. It was designed on a 30" module and offered in a wide variety of configurations. ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Set of George Nelson Swag Leg Chairs by Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThe swag leg chair designs by the office of George Nelson were developed in response to his desire to create a chair with a beautiful "swagged" leg (one that tapers while it curves)....Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- George Nelson Model 4652 Extension Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Highland, INThis early George Nelson design features two extensions with reversible and removable tray tables. Closed, it is a modestly scaled table. Opened the surface nearly doubles, and the t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsFormica, Wood
- Eames CTW-3 Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Highland, INThis early vintage coffee table by Charles and Ray Eames is an important and iconic design. The result of the couple's experiments in molded plywood, the table is visually and physic...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAsh
- Alexander Girard Coffee Table by Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, Alexander GirardLocated in Highland, INAlexander Girard's model #66350 coffee table was part of a suite of furniture originally designed for Braniff Airlines. Produced by Herman Miller for a single year in 1967, these rar...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAluminum
On Hold$10,500 - 1st Generation Eames RKR Rocker by Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Highland, INCharles and Ray Eames designed their fiberglass and wire chairs to be fitted with a wide variety of bases to offer a range of heights, uses, and aesthetics. One of the most desirable...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
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 Mid Century Leather and Chrome Sling SofaBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Countryside, ILGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Leather and Chrome Sling Sofa This sofa measures: 87 wide x 32 deep x 29 inches high, with a seat height of 17.5 and arm height of 23 inc...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsChrome
- 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 Modular Sofa and Tables Herman Miller, 1963By Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice leather sofa designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, United States, 1963. This sofa has a metal frame with square chrome plated legs, the seat is in black leather and ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- 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
- Herman Miller George Nelson Modular Seating Cognac Natural Leather SofaBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated 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
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.