George Nelson (1908-1986) for Herman Miller Comprehensive Storage System (CSS) Wall Furniture

Description:

George Nelson (1908-1986) for Herman Miller Comprehensive Storage System (CSS) Wall Furniture, Zeeland, Michigan, c. 1972, walnut and metal, five-bay wall unit consisting of a drop-front desk with storage cubicles and two drawers (20 x 30 3/4 x 13),six drawers (two - 3 1/2 x 30 3/4 x 18; four - 7 1/4 x 30 3/4 x 18) and brackets, four shelves (two - 3/4 x 32 x 18 1/2; two - 3/4 x 32 x 12),two compartment tops and two compartment bottoms (3/4 x 32 x 12 3/4),four sliding doors (1/8 x 15 3/4 x 14 1/2),four adjustable ht. poles (80-84),one with original conical shade lamp (11 1/4 in.),and an original installation manual.

Note: Nelson was an American industrial designer. While lead designer for the Herman Miller furniture company, Nelson and his design studio, George Nelson Associates, designed 20th-century modernist furniture. He is considered a founder of American modernist design.

In 1945, the Herman Miller furniture company was producing mostly conventional, wood-based designs. After reading Tomorrow's House D.J. Depree, the Chairman of Herman Miller, selected Nelson to be the company's next Director of Design, despite Nelson having no experience designing furniture. Depree was more interested in Nelson's insight into the best way to make furniture innovative and useful. Nelson was offered a contract that allowed him the freedom to work outside of Herman Miller, and to use designs from other architects that Nelson had worked with. He became the Director of Design for Herman Miller in 1947, and held the position until 1972. The first Herman Miller catalog produced by Nelson was released in 1945. Over the following years it would include some of the most iconic home furnishings of the 20th century. Ray and Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, Richard Schultz, Donald Knorr, and Isamu Noguchi all worked for Herman Miller, under Nelson's supervision.
Estimate $2,000-3,000


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