George Nelson Bubble Lamp History

The nelson bubble lamp collection designed by george nelson includes pendants wall sconces floor lamps and table lamps.

George nelson bubble lamp history.

A large saucer lamp was simply sold under bubble lamp h 727 a. George nelson never named the different lamp designs and they were simply given numbers by howard miller. Military at the time the material was a soft yet durable plastic that was spray coated around a steel wire frame changing the game of mid century lighting for years to come. Howard miller continued to sell the line throughout the late 1970 s after which they were discontinued.

Nelson designed the first bubble lamp in 1947 incorporating a self webbing plastic that was developed for military use. In 1952 herman miller branched in to the lighting industry with the introduction of the george nelson bubble lamps premiering a new material application that was predominantly used by the u s. Somehow evocative of both paper lanterns and the space race they have a warm simplicity that is always in style. George nelson s bubble lamps are familiar icons of modernism.

The story behind their creation is best told in the words of george nelson himself.