Half Nelson Table Lamp

Overview

Design by George Nelson, circa 1950.
Made in the USA by Modernica.

A magnum opus from the innovative George Nelson Office. The Half-Nelson lamp is a definitive example of George Nelson's visionary design. Stripped down into the most essential shapes, Nelson playfully transforms a cylinder, rod and discus into an enduring work of art.

The Half-Nelson utilizes a pivoting shade, which is adjustable both left, right, up and down - giving it the ability to direct light in all directions. The cylinder base and disc are both constructed of black powder-coated aluminum, while the underside of the disc is power-coated white. The stem connecting the two is made of chromed-aluminum. The on/off switch, located on the cylinder, is built of machine-anodized aluminum.

George Nelson originally designed Half-Nelson for a large-scale design project, Holiday House. Holiday House was a commissioned design vacation home for a magazine of the same name. The house was built in 1950 on the southern coast of Long Island. It was intended to showcase the magazine and to promote post-war economy in which one could afford to own a vacation home. George Nelson designed the home and most of its furnishings.