Designed by Irving Harper and George Nelson for Herman Miller®
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Request Free SwatchesIf only all design "failures" were so successful. The inspiration for the Nelson Marshmallow Sofa (1956) was launched when an inventor approached George Nelson and Irving Harper with a planned "self-skinned" injection plastic disc that would be inexpensive to produce and unerringly durable. As the proposed cushions had a maximum diameter of 12 inches, the designers perched 18 of them atop a steel frame. Sadly, the inventor's vision for high-resiliency, low-cost cushions never came to fruition, but the design was so compelling that Herman Miller chose to produce it anyway. With both residential and commercial applications in mind, the design features detachable cushions that are both easy to clean and interchangeable to equalize wear. The atom-like appearance of the Marshmallow Sofa is a precursor to the aesthetic style of the pop art of the 1960s. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Nelson is a trademark of Herman Miller, Inc. Made in U.S.A.
U.S.A. (1916–2015)
“Chances are you haven’t heard of Irving Harper,” wrote Paul Makovsky in a 2001 issue of Metropolis magazine, “but you have seen his work.” In his 60-year career, Irving Harper designed everything from the Herman Miller logo to innovative melamine dinnerware to the now-iconic Sunburst Clock and even the venerable Marshmallow Sofa – all under the name George Nelson Associates.
“I’m grateful ...
U.S.A. (1908–1986)
Possessing one of the most inventive minds of the 20th century, George Nelson was the rare person who can envision what isn’t there yet. Nelson described his creative abilities as a series of “zaps” – flashes of inspiration and clarity that he turned into innovative design ideas.
One such “zap” came in 1942, when Nelson conceived the first-ever pedestrian shopping mall – ...
Brushed tubular steel frame; black satin-finished steel legs; vinyl or polyester crepe upholstery.
