nelson pear lotus table lamp
Design George Nelson,
1952
Steel skeleton, self-webbing soft plastic, brushed metal base
Bringing a graceful presence to a table setting, the Nelson Pear Lotus Table Lamp is set on a steel base that is available with or without a walnut cover, and includes an 86-inch plug-in cord. A pull chain with a solid walnut end provides a convenient way to turn the lamp on and off. In 1952, a set of Swedish hanging lamps were introduced into the American market and George Nelson was impressed enough to want one for his office. When he learned that it was available at a Swedish import store in New York, he hurried to acquire one. The steep price tag, for that time, prevented him from buying one but it also inspired him to design his own. The result was a timeless collection of lamps with elemental, spherical shapes that complement contemporary interiors as easily and beautifully as they did mid-century homes.
330W*330D*670H
George Nelson (1908–1986) was an American industrial designer, and one of the founders of American Modernism. While Director of Design for the Herman Miller furniture company, both Nelson, and his design studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., designed much of the 20th century's most iconic modernist furniture. George Nelson attended Yale University, not originally intending become an architect. He happened upon the architecture school while ducking into the building to get out of the rain, and was impressed by an exhibition inside. He graduated with a degree in architecture in 1928. During his final year at Yale, Nelson was hired by the architecture firm Adams and Prentice as a drafter.
Herman Miller was a West Michigan businessman who helped his son-in-law, D.J. De Pree, buy the Michigan Star Furniture Company in 1923. De Pree had been working at the company, which opened in 1905, since he was hired in 1909 as a clerk. De Pree knew his father-in-law was a man of integrity, so he decided to rename the company after him. By the middle of the 20th century, the name Herman Miller had become synonymous with “modern” furniture. Working with legendary designers George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, the company produced pieces that would become classics of industrial design.