Wright Auction

It is not an exaggeration to say that George Nelson’s office changed the way we think about time and postwar modernism. For instance, the Atomic Ball clock (designed by Harper, not dreamed up by Nelson and Noguchi over drinks) is the embodiment of the era. The Whirlygig clock (model 2268) is the groundbreaking reimagination of a traditional, glass dome anniversary clock. Other standouts showcased recently-invented plastic molding techniques (models 2263 and 2282).

People ask which is my favorite. The answer is easy; it’s the Hexagon clock (model 2266). Harper’s ingenious use of an external and an internal hexagon to make up the twelve hour markers, the “floating” minute and hour hands, and the spinning spirograph second hand are mesmerizing. And it is easy to see the influence of Harper’s artwork and graphic design, which relies heavily on hexagons.

Of course, it wasn’t just about clocks. George Nelson’s office designed some groundbreaking furniture like the Thin Edge series and Coconut chair that are still in production today. From whiskey bottles to knife sharpeners and even bird houses, George Nelson and his associates designed it all with creative abandon over more than two decades.

I inherited my first pieces from my grandparents, who purchased them new in the 1950s, and we have lived with, expanded, and cherished our collection ever since. We look forward to sharing some of it with you all through this catalog and sale. 

—William Dorsey