Nelson Marshmallow Sofa

Overview

The Nelson Marshmallow Sofa is a Herman Miller sofa credited to George Nelson, with an original production date of 1956. Its seat and back are made of 18 round cushions that appear to float above a tubular steel frame. Herman Miller describes it as one of the most recognizable pieces of furniture to adopt an early pop-art style.

Image source: Herman Miller — Nelson Marshmallow Sofa · © Herman Miller and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

The product page and price book describe 18 circular cushions on the back and seat, a brushed-finish tubular steel frame and black satin legs. The cushions detach for easy cleaning or to be interchanged, and can be switched among the 12 colours listed on the product sheet.

Specifications

• Sofa 5670: W 52 in (1321 mm), D 29 in (737 mm), H 31 in (787 mm), seat height 16 in
• Cushions: 18, each 10 in across according to the product sheet
• Frame: brushed-finish tubular steel with black satin legs

An unexpected genesis

Herman Miller's design story says George Nelson and Irving Harper, a young designer in Nelson's firm, were approached by an inventor who had made an injection plastic disc he insisted could be produced inexpensively and would be durable. They arranged 18 of the discs on a steel frame, and although the inventor's cushions proved impractical, Nelson and Harper were intrigued by what they had created casually and Herman Miller decided to manufacture the sofa.

Floating elements

By joining separate elements and making them appear to float on air, the designers gave the sofa the look that Herman Miller says led the way into the pop art style of the 1960s. The same page notes that Harper also designed the Herman Miller company logo. Wikipedia dates the design to 1954, credits it to Irving Harper of George Nelson Associates and reports that it was first made in two lengths; Herman Miller's product sheet and price book list only the 52 in sofa.