Designer: George Nelson

The Nelson platform bench is a multipurpose resting place for people and their things. With its simple, spare lines, the bench is also a striking accent--a piece of art in itself that has become a sought-after collector's item for use in a living room, vestibule, bedroom, library, office, or public area.

Introduced in 1946 the Nelson platform bench was part of George Nelson's first collection for Herman Miller and still stands as a benchmark of modern design. Like much of Nelson's work, the platform bench has clean, rectilinear lines, reflecting his architectural background and his insistence on what he calls "honest" design--that is, making an honest visual statement about an object's purpose.

As presented in the 1948 Herman Miller furniture catalog, the platform bench "is primarily a high base for deep and shallow cases, but it also serves as a low table for extra seating." The 1955 catalog states that the bench "has proved to be one of the most flexible and useful units in the collection." The bench was reintroduced in 1994.

Warranty: The Nelson platform bench is covered by the Herman Miller Warranty for one year.