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George Nelson Decorative Objects

American, 1908-1986

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.

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Creator: George Nelson
Early George Nelson Thin Edge Jewelry Chest Model 5211 for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Dallas, TX
Early, original George Nelson teak wood thin-edge Jewelry chest model number 5211 for Herman Miller. Signed inside top drawer with original silver Herman Miller Medallion. The case m...
Category

Mid-20th Century American George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Irving Harper for George Nelson Howard Miller Clock
By George Nelson, Howard Miller, Irving Harper
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Irving Harper for George Nelson Associates wall clock. Produced by Howard Miller, with original tags. Runs well and retains the original hands a...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Plastic

George Nelson for Howard Miller Clock #4766
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice vintage mid century modern George Nelson for Howard Miller 4766 Clock in working condition. The clock has an alarm function that is working as well. The clock bears a Treadway...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

1950's Rare George Nelson for Howard Miller Chronopak 4765 Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful example of a mid century design by George Nelson for the Howard Miller clock company, this Chronopak Model 4765A clock is in beautiful condition and running well and keep...
Category

1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

George Nelson Basket Clock, model 2215
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in New York, NY
Round basket clock, model #2215, designed by George Nelson and produced by Howard Miller, 1950’s. Rattan, enameled steel, metal. With Howard Miller decal on face, and sticker and emb...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Steel

George Nelson Starburst Clock
By George Nelson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Iconic design by George Nelson
Category

1950s American Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Rare Mosaic Tile Wall Clock in Walnut by George Nelson & Assoc circa 1950s
By George Nelson, Irving Harper
Located in Troy, MI
Rare George Nelson And Associates Mosaic Tile Wall Clock Designed by Irving Harper for George Nelson and Associates and produced by Howard Miller Model 2232 1957 Walnut frame with...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Early Production Iconic Ball Clock Designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
A very hard to find and early iconic ball clock designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller, circa 1950s. The clock is in original vintage condition with an 8 feet long plug in elec...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Kite Wall Clock by George Nelson, Howard Miller, Vitra Label
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern kite wall clock by George Nelson, Howard Miller, Vitra Label George Nelson (American, 1908-1986) Group of Table and Wall Clocks for Howard Miller, Vitra Design Museum, Poland/Germany, designed 1949-1954 Vitra Design Museum labels, With battery-operated mechanisms The Kite clock...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Enamel

George Nelson Midcentury Burlwood and Rosewood Grandfather Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Countryside, IL
George Nelson Mid Century Burlwood and Rosewood Grandfather Clock This clock measures: 16.5 wide x 9 deep x 72.5 inches high We take ou...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Rosewood, Burl

George Nelson for Howard Miller Midcentury Lucite Grandfather Clock
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Countryside, IL
George Nelson for Howard Miller Mid Century lucite Grandfather Clock This clock measures: 13 wide x 9 deep x 55.25 inches high We take our photos in a controlled lighting studi...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

George Nelson Mid Century Ball Clock in Brass and Wood
By George Nelson
Located in Weesp, NL
Interestingly, while nearly all of the designs that came out of George’s studio were attributed to him, many were actually designed by him and his team. Some were even designed solely by someone else working at the studio. Nelson famously recounted the story of how the Ball Clock came to life in an interview decades after it’s release: “It was one of the really funny evenings. Noguchi came by, Bucky Fuller came by, and here was Irving, and here was I, and Noguchi - who can’t keep his hands off anything - he saw we were working on clocks and started making doodles. Then Bucky sort of brushed Isamu aside. He said, ‘This is a good way to do a clock’ and made some utterly absurd thing. Everybody was taking a crack at this, pushing each other aside and making scribbles. At some point we left – we were suddenly all tired, and we’d had a little bit too much to drink – and the next morning I came back, and here was this roll of paper, and Irving and I looked at it, and somewhere in this roll, there was a ball clock. I don’t know to this day who cooked it up.” Nevertheless, whoever it was that came up with George Nelson’s designs, it’s almost certain that they would never have come to fruition if it wasn’t for George’s vision and forward-thinking approach. Can you tell me more about his clocks? George’s clocks were one of his most impressive bodies of work. In total, he and his team designed over 130 clocks in just three decades. While it is widely accepted that Irving Harper was the lead designer for the Howard Miller Clock Company at George Nelson Associates, the collection arose after two insightful observations from George: one, that people no longer used the numbers to tell the time; and two, that since most people now used their wristwatch to tell the time, interior clocks were now free to become more decorative in nature. The clocks were designed and released in batches of 8 and were initially only given numbers for names. The Sunflower Clock was simply ‘Clock 2261’, the Flock of Butterflies Clock was 'Clock 2226’, and so on. The Ball was the first clock designed by George and his team and it was followed shortly after by the Star, Sunburst, Spindle, Asterisk, Turbine, Flock of Butterflies, Eye and others. The clocks were purposefully abstract and were designed to complement the modernist furniture emerging at the time. As well as wall clocks, George’s studio also produced a series of desk clocks during that time, most notably the bubble-shaped Night Desk...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
By Howard Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern cream, brown, and navy checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Very few signs...
Category

1980s North American Post-Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson Midcentury Burlwood and Rosewood Grandfather Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Countryside, IL
George Nelson midcentury Burlwood and Rosewood Grandfather Clock This clock measures: 16.5 wide x 9 deep x 72.5 inches high We take our...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Rosewood, Burl

Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Metro Table Clock "Tempo 21"
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Navy pyramid base with a cream wavy stem that holds the red and green clock...
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Olympus Table Clock "Tempo 21"
By Howard Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare "Olympus" table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. The circular red clock face is upheld by a green pyramid base...
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson Studio Steering Wheel Clock
By George Nelson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An original George Nelson Studio steering wheel clock Original surface, hour markers and second hand Howard Miller Decal present,see detail phot...
Category

1950s American Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 3
By Howard Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern brown and cream checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Slight signs of wear ...
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Fritz Hansen & George Nelson Stool Seat Wall Clock
By Howard Miller, George Nelson, Fritz Hansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage 1950s George Nelson ball clock for George Nelson and Associates and Howard Miller. This clock was designed with Irving Harper in 1949, and was the first among several iconic clock...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

George Nelson Mini Grandfather Clock for Howard Miller
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful half-height tabletop grandfather clock in rosewood. Designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller clock company. Wind-up ...
Category

1950s American Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Rosewood

Thin Edge Jewelry Chest by George Nelson 1954, Original, Rosewood & Teak, Signed
By George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare early George Nelson for Herman Miller nine drawer jewelry / miniature cabinet in rosewood and teak with porcelain pulls. Completely original, never refinished very good conditio...
Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Rosewood, Teak

George Nelson Birch & Brass Wall Clock for Howard Miller
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nelson Birch & Brass wall clock for Howard Miller.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

1960s George Nelson Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series
By George Nelson
Located in Hyattsville, MD
USA, c.1960s. George Nelson & Associates Lucite Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series for Howard Miller. This rare example does have...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Lucite

George Nelson Model-4758 Wall Clock for Howard Miller
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nelson Model-4758 wall clock for Howard Miller.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

George Nelson Miniature /Jewelry Chest
By George Nelson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Rosewood,Enameled aluminum and porcelain An early example of this form,model # 5215 Base is original to the cabinet Disc Manufacturer's label.
Category

1950s American Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Rosewood

George Nelson Brass Clock for Howard Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
George Nelson for Howard Miller brass clock. A round brass clock on a tri-legged brass pedestal with a thick plexiglass face. The clock has b...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

George Nelson Meridian Wall Clock Rimini Blue Face by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
By Bitossi, George Nelson, Aldo Londi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Meridian” clock designed by George Nelson for the Howard Miller Clock Company. Face is made of “Rimini Blue” Italian ceramic designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, battery operated.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

George Nelson Tripod Table Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scarce large tripod table clock, Model 4764, designed by George Nelson and Associates for Howard Miller Clock Company. Satin brass dial encased in plexiglass bubble, with signature b...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

George Nelson Chess Piece Clock
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare model #2251 chess piece table clock designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller Clock Company. Turned walnut base supports w...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Rare Mid-Century Design Icon an Arthur Umanoff Iron and Cane Log Holder Rack
By George Nelson, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Simple, sculptural design. Presented in As-Found condition.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Wrought Iron

George Nelson Prototype Domino Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Chicago, IL
Nelson office, designed by Irving Harper for Howard Miller. This is the only clock and was never produced. Purchased from Howard Miller Executive.  
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Arthur Umanoff Desk Clock, George Nelson & Associates, 1950s
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Houston, TX
George 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

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

George Nelson #4756 Electric Walnut Wall Clock for Howard Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A round walnut electric wall clock with printed face having white numbers and a bold sun or flower styled orange and yellow design back round . White metal sculptural hands and red s...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

George Nelson decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

George Nelson decorative objects are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of George Nelson decorative objects, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative objects by George Nelson were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative objects by Robert Maxwell, David Cressey, and Howard Miller. Prices for George Nelson decorative objects can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $16,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,575.
Questions About George Nelson Decorative Objects
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    George Nelson was an American designer, and for a time the lead designer for the famed Herman Miller furniture company. Nelson is often referred to as the founder of American modernist design and often associated with his more inspired pieces such as the Coconut Chair, Marshmallow Sofa and the Ball Clock. Shop a collection of George Nelson furniture designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    George Nelson was a furniture designer central to the mid-century modern design movement. His best-known creations are the marshmallow sofa, coconut chair, ball clock and bubble lamp series. His style included sleek, thin-edge lines on a variety of furniture still available today. Shop a range of George Nelson furniture designs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Modern George Nelson clocks are made in Poland. The company Vitra Designs manufactures the timepieces based on the original designs of the American designer who lived from 1908 to 1986. On 1stDibs, you can shop a selection of George Nelson clocks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    George Nelson Bubble Lamps are made of steel wires, which form a durable framework for the lamp. A plastic polymer material spread over the wires forms the shade which is translucent to give the lamp a soft glow. Inspired by Swedish lamps, these mid-century modern light fixtures are still made by the legendary furniture manufacturer Herman Miller today. Shop a range of George Nelson Bubble Lamps on 1stDibs.

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