George Nelson (1908 to 1986) was an American architect, designer and writer, born in Hartford, Connecticut. He studied architecture at Yale, won the Rome Prize in 1932, and wrote about design before turning to practice.
From the mid-1940s until 1972 he was director of design at one of America's major furniture makers, where he brought in Charles and Ray Eames and Isamu Noguchi. His designs include the slatted bench of 1946, a long series of wall clocks in the 1940s and 1950s, the Bubble lamps, which went into production in 1952, and the Swag Leg desks of 1958.
All eight pieces, verified against their product pages. Prices are the current From price including the active sale.
Piece | From | Size (cm) | Power or fitting |
|---|---|---|---|
Ball Style Clock | GBP 54.50 | 34 × 34 × 7 | 1 × AA, not included |
Night Style Clock | GBP 74.50 | 15 × 11 × 11 | 1 × AA, not included |
Bubble Lamp Criss Cross Ball (small) | GBP 104.50 | Ø32.5 × 30.5 | E27, bulb not included |
George Nelson Bubble Lamp (small) | GBP 124.50 | Ø44.5 × 17.8 | E27, bulb not included |
Bubble Lamp Crisscross Saucer (45 cm) | GBP 139.50 | Ø44.45 × 19.05 | E27, bulb not included |
George Nelson Bench (small) | GBP 229.50 | 122 × 47 × 35 | n/a |
Sunflower Style Wall Clock | GBP 349.50 | 76.5 × 5.8 × 76.5 | 1 × AA, not included |
Style Swag Desk | GBP 734.50 | 99 × 72.5 × 74, shelf unit to 88 | n/a |
Three clocks, three jobs. The Night Style Clock is a 15 cm table clock for a shelf or bedside. The Ball Style Clock is a 34 cm wall clock. The Sunflower Style Wall Clock is 76.5 cm across, more than twice the Ball Clock's width and the largest of the three.
Two pendants at almost the same width, different shapes. The small Bubble Lamp and the 45 cm Crisscross Saucer are both about 44.5 cm across; the Saucer is slightly taller at 19 cm against 17.8 cm. The Criss Cross Ball is the compact one at 32.5 cm. Larger sizes of all three are on their product pages.
The bench is also a low table. At 35 cm high and 122 cm long, the product page describes it as seating, a display platform or a coffee table.
Every pendant takes one E27 bulb, not included. The product pages recommend up to 60 W. Each comes with a 180 cm adjustable cable.
An electrician is advised for all three pendants, according to their product pages. Plan the installation when you order.
All three pendants can be dimmed with a separate dimmer, which is not included. Use a bulb rated as dimmable.
Every clock runs on one AA battery, not included, with a quartz movement. Buy the batteries when you order.
For more ceiling lights, see pendant lighting.
George Nelson (1908 to 1986) was an American architect, designer and writer from Hartford, Connecticut. He studied at Yale and won the Rome Prize in 1932. He is famous for his wall clocks, his Bubble lamps and his slatted bench, and as director of design at a major American furniture maker from the mid-1940s until 1972.
It is a reproduction of one of his designs: a clock, a pendant lamp, the slatted bench or the desk. It is sold as a reproduction, and every Mobelaris product page states that the item is not manufactured by or affiliated with the original designer. The collection holds eight pieces, from GBP 54.50 for the Ball Style Clock.
Three. The Ball Style Clock is a 34 cm wall clock with lacquered wooden balls, from GBP 54.50. The Night Style Clock is a 15 cm table clock in brass, from GBP 74.50. The Sunflower Style Wall Clock is 76.5 cm across with a walnut frame, from GBP 349.50. Finish options are on each product page.
Each clock runs on one AA battery with a quartz movement, according to all three product pages, and the battery is not included, so buy it when you order. The three clocks range from a 15 cm table clock to a 76.5 cm wall clock, and from GBP 54.50 to GBP 349.50.
Three. The George Nelson Bubble Lamp starts from GBP 124.50 in the small size, 44.5 cm across. The Bubble Lamp Criss Cross Ball starts from GBP 104.50 at 32.5 cm. The Bubble Lamp Crisscross Saucer starts from GBP 139.50 at 45 cm. Larger sizes of each are listed on their product pages.
The product pages for all three pendants advise an electrician. Each takes one E27 bulb, up to 60 W and not included, and comes with a 180 cm cable that can be adjusted to the drop you want. Plan the installation when you order, so the ceiling fitting is ready when the lamp arrives.
Yes. All three product pages say the pendants are dimmable with a separate dimmer, which is not included. Use an E27 bulb rated as dimmable. The bulb, up to 60 W, is not supplied with any of the lamps, so choose it at the same time as the dimmer.
Yes. Its product page describes it as seating, a display platform or a coffee table. The small bench is 122 cm long, 47 cm deep and 35 cm high, with an ash slatted top and black lacquered ash legs that fit to the top on arrival. It starts from GBP 229.50, and a large size is also offered.
The Style Swag Desk is 99 cm wide and 72.5 cm deep overall. The writing surface sits at 74 cm and is 50 cm deep, with a shelf unit behind it rising to 88 cm. It has polished cast aluminium legs, a walnut veneer and white laminate top, and coloured lacquered panels. It starts from GBP 734.50.
Most pieces take 12 to 16 weeks, according to their product pages, and some lamp sizes and colourways may show faster dispatch. Each product page shows its own estimate under the Add to Cart button, and timings are confirmed by email once the order is placed. Warranty terms are listed on each product page.
