nelson™ bubble lamp propeller
by George Nelson, from Herman Miller ®
Design George Nelson, 1952
Steel skeleton, self-webbing soft plastic, nickel-plated ceiling plate
Made by Herman Miller
An assortment of lights in various spherical silhouettes, the Nelson Bubble Lamps add a touch of softness and luminosity to interiors. Designed by George Nelson in 1952, these elegant fixtures are fashioned from a sturdy, lightweight steel frame yet have a delicate, floating quality, whether in ceiling-hung, floor, table, or wall-mounted variations.
Nelson was inspired by a set of silk-covered Swedish hanging lamps that he wanted to acquire for his office, but he found the price to be prohibitive. An ingenious and resourceful designer, he went on to create the first set of Nelson Bubble Lamps using a translucent white plastic spray, a technique developed by the U.S. military at the time. Nelson drew from elemental, organic shapes in making variations like the Apple Bubble Pendant, the Pear Wall Sconce, the Lotus Table Lamp, and the Saucer Pendant Lamp, among others.
Pendants include a brushed, nickel-plated steel ceiling plate with a 10-foot cord. UL-listed and rated for bulbs up to 150 watts. The propeller is available in one size. Bulb is not included.
15" h | 20.5 dia" | UL rated | 150 watt max
(usually ships in 20-30 business days)
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 to 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 buy the Michigan Star Furniture Company in 1923. De Pree had been working at the company since he was hired in 1909 as a clerk. De Pree knew his father in law as 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 & Ray Eames the company produced legendary classics of industrial design.
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propeller (PROP10 BNS)