George Nelson™ Pedestal Side Table from Herman Miller©

The same tapered legs and single metal column that provide a signature foundation for George Nelson’s stools, side tables, and storage cabinets lend grace and timelessness to his small round side table. Available with either a studio white laminate top or a black laminate top, both accented by natural maple edges and coordinating bases, it’s a versatile modern classic used as an end table or bedside stand. Produced by Herman Miller®, a manufacturer in MoMA’s collection, from Nelson’s 1954 design. Made in the USA.

Reflecting on his remarkable 50-year career, George Nelson described a series of creative “zaps”—moments of out-of-the-blue inspiration. He also believed that furniture should be “a simple, direct expression of construction with existing techniques.” A 1931 graduate of Yale’s School of Fine Arts, Nelson became an architect after graduate school, when building was at a standstill following the Great Depression and World War II. He held the post of director of the Herman Miller furniture company from 1946 to 1965 and became one of the most influential figures in modern American design. He commissioned work by the Eameses, Alexander Girard, and others who made significant contributions to the field. Six examples of Nelson’s designs are included in MoMA’s collection.