Modern Icons: Nelson Pendant Lights

Ah, the Nelson Pendant Light. It covers the bare bulb glare and fills rooms with a wonderful glow. The plastic sculptural form draws the eye up to admire it. Once it does, one may wonder about this modern icon's history.

Here is a way too condensed and incomplete history of George Nelson and his Bubble Lights. The first Nelson Bubble Light was designed by George Nelson in 1947. Nelson studied architecture and fine art in school in the 1920s, just in time for the genesis of Modern Architecture. He had an uncanny understanding of the Modern Architecture movement and went on to become a prominent architecture writer, sharing and analyzing the work of those who became the giants of the modern movement including Mies van de Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Walter Gropius, to name a few.

In the forties, Nelson co-wrote "Tomorrow's House," where he shared his understanding of art, the relationship between form and function, and innovative ideas to meet modern needs with spatial solutions. This made him a perfect candidate for the position of Director of Design at Herman Miller as the company was anxious to enter the arena of modern furniture. From the 1940s-60s, he was involved in the design all sorts of modern furniture and accessories - his Slat Bench, Marshmallow Sofa, Ball Clocks and Bubble Lamps are just a few of the most memorable designs that are still available today.

Back to the Bubble Lamps! Nelson's Bubble Lamps were first produced in 1950. They are hanging shades comprised of sculptural wire skeletons covered in translucent plastic. Their popularity has never waned. They come in several forms that are still in production, including the Propeller, the Cigar, the Crisscross, the Ball, the Saucer, the Apple, the Pear, and the Lantern (you can find these at retailers including Modernica, Design Within Reach, and Hive Modern). Without further ado, let's take a look at how designers today are employing this iconic fixture.