Vitra Desk Clock - Cone Base Clock
DESK CLOCK - CONE BASE CLOCK
DESK CLOCK - CONE BASE CLOCK
Designed by George Nelson, 1948-1960
The many accessories created for the home by George Nelson include a variety of table clocks.
Representing a selection of these classic designs, the Desk Clocks offer a refreshing alternative to conventional clocks. Equipped with high-quality quartz movements, the charm of these decorative timepieces is equalled by their precision.
In 1947, the American designer George Nelson was commissioned to create a collection of clocks. Nelson analysed how people used clocks and concluded that they read the time by discerning the relative position of the hands, which made the use of numbers unnecessary.
Furthermore, since most people wore wristwatches, he assumed that clocks had become more of a decorative element for interiors. These ideas provided the basis for the fi rst collection of 14 timepieces, consisting of a completely new style of wall clocks and compact table clocks, which were launched on the market in 1949.
DESIGNER
GEORGE NELSON
George Nelson, born 1908 in Hartford, Connecticut (USA), studied architecture at Yale University.
A fellowship enabled him to study at the American Academy in Rome from 1932 to 1934.
In Europe, he became acquainted with the major architectural works and leading protagonists of modernism. In 1935, Nelson joined the editorial staff of the 'Architectural Forum', where he was employed until 1944.
A programmatic article on residential building and furniture design, published by Nelson in a 1944 issue of the journal, attracted the attention of D.J. DePree, head of the furniture company Herman Miller, Inc. A short time later, George Nelson took on the position of Design Director at Herman Miller.
Remaining there until 1972, he became a key figure of American design; in addition to creating furnishings for the home and office, Nelson also convinced the likes of Charles & Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Girard to work for Herman Miller.
In 1957, Vitra founder Willi Fehlbaum signed his first licence agreement with Herman Miller to produce furniture for the European market.
During the ensuing decades of the collaboration with Vitra, a close friendship evolved between George Nelson and Rolf Fehlbaum, who later said about Nelson: 'No other prominent designer spoke as intelligently or wrote as coherently about design'. .
Nelson expressed his thoughts on design topics in numerous articles and eleven books; his seminal treatise 'How to See' was recently reissued in a new edition by Phaidon
Along with his position as Design Director at Herman Miller, Nelson opened his own design office in 1947, George Nelson Associates, Inc., working together with such outstanding employees as Irving Harper, Ernest Farmer, Gordon Chadwick, George Tscherny and Don Ervin to create countless products and objects, some of which are now regarded as icons of mid-century modernism.
His architectural work included numerous private residences. The Sherman Fairchild House (1941) attracted considerable attention, and his Experimental House exemplified his interest in prefabricated building and flexible floor plans.
George Nelson died in New York in 1986. His estate, which is held by the Vitra Design Museum, encompasses roughly 7400 manuscripts, plans, drawings, photographs and slides dating from 1924 to 1984. In 2008/09, the Vitra Design Museum mounted the exhibition 'George Nelson – Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher.
INFORMATION
BRAND
Vitra
PRODUCT TYPE
Clock
USE
Decorative element for interiors.
DIMENSIONS
- Height : 171 cm
- Length : 135 cm
- Width : 62 cm
PRODUCT CONTENTS
-High-quality Quartz Clock Movement -1.5 Volt Battery Included.
PRODUCTION
Made in Europe
DESIGNER
George Nelson
MATERIALS
- Brass
- Acrylic Glass
- Polyurethane
- Solid Walnut.
ORIGIN OF WOOD
Walnut (juglans nigra) from western europe and/or poland.
COLLECTIONS
Desk Clock
AVAILABLE
Various shapes and materials.
DETAIL
Although the models all shared one common feature – the absence of numbers – the diversity of their shapes, colours, materials and designs could hardly have been greater. In the 35 years that followed, the designers Materials at Nelson Associates conceived more than a hundred diff erent clock wall clocks, portable table clocks and built-in clocks.
After Nelson’s death in 1986, his archival estate, encompassing roughly 7400 manuscripts, plans, drawings, photographs and slides dating from 1924 to 1984, was acquired by the Vitra Design Museum. Vitra began reissuing the Nelson Clocks in 1999 and updates the collection from time to time. The Desk Clocks are available in various shapes and materials. Equipped with high-quality quartz movements, they continue to off er a refreshing alternative to conventional clocks.