Lamp
c. 1936
Before George Nelson became the mid-century modern legend behind the famous Bubble Lamps and Ball Clock, he was mastering the art of industrial design, as seen in this precise 1936 sketch. The drawing depicts a tall, elegant lamp with a bulbous top and two wicks or rods sticking out, rendered with careful shading that gives it a metallic, three-dimensional feel. A smaller technical diagram in the bottom right corner, labeled 'No. 129,' suggests this was a plate from a design catalog or portfolio, showcasing the functional beauty that defined the Modernist movement. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the early career of a designer who would eventually reshape how Americans lived and decorated their homes.
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