Marshmallow sofa
Designer : Irving Harper
Date : 1957-1961
Country : United States
Materials : Tubular steel frame. Satin chrome or black painted metal. Foam covered in fabric, vinyl, or leather.
Style/Tradition : Modernist
Dimensions (sofa): (52"Wx33"Dx32 1/2"Hx16"SH)
Dimensions (chaise longue): (103"Wx33"Dx32 1/2"Hx16"SH)
Colours : originally red, orange, blue, yellow, and other colors

Officially known as the Marshmallow love seat #5670,[1] the Marshmallow sofa is considered the most iconic of all modernist sofas.[2] The Marshmallow sofa was designed by Irving Harper and produced in two lengths from 1956 until 1961 by Herman Miller in Zeeland, Michigan.[2] It was re-issued in the 1980's as part of the "Herman Miller Classics" line, and continues in production today.

History

Officially listed by Herman Miller as the Marshmallow love seat #5670, the sofa was designed for both residential and contract (office) sales.[1] The playful design of the Marshmallow sofa is the result of Irving Harper's placement of circular "marshmallow" cushions at regular intervals across a metal frame.[3] The cushions were covered in either fabric, vinyl, or leather in bright colors.[3] Generally all the cushions were the same color, but the sofa could also be ordered with cushions of various colors for a truly fun appearance. The design was the result of an inventor who presented to Geroge Nelson's design office an example of his ability to create a round foam disc that became "self-skinned" The limited manufacturing costs made the item inviting, and the sofa was approved for development and production. Unfortunately the invention didn't live up to its promise, but Herman Miller went ahead with the sofas production anyway.

The Marshmallow sofa was designed at George Nelson's studio in New York City, and has often been attributed to Nelson.[3] The Marshmallow sofa was designed in the "atomistic" style seen in other classic Nelson studio designs, such as the "Ball clock" (1950) and the "Hang-It-All" (1953).[4] The "atomistic" style explodes its parts into separate, brightly-colored elements, in this case the seat cushions. It was an adaptation of artist's representations of the atom, which used individual, brightly-colored dots to portray atomic particles.[4]

The marshmallow sofa was produced in two lengths. By far the most common is the 52" version, which incorporates 18 cushions in a pattern of 4-5-5-4.[3] The far rarer 103" length uses 38 cushions in a 9-10-10-9 pattern.[2]

The Marshmallow sofa was originally issued by Herman Miller in 1956,[1] and appeared in their 1957 catalog. The sofa was dropped in 1961.[1] Despite its popularity, and visibility in Herman Miller publications, only 186 Marshmallow sofas were produced between 1956 and 1961.[1] The 52" version was re-issued in the 1980's as part of the "Herman Miller Classics" line, and continues in production today, though in limited numbers.

Survivors

Original Marshmallow sofas are the most desirable and valuable of all modernist sofas.[2] The extermely rare 103" length is virtually never seen offered for sale. One example, covered in white fabric and signed by Irving Harper was sold by Sotheby's for $37,500.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Pina, Leslie (1998). Classic Herman Miller. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0471-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e Fleisher, Noah (2009). Warman's Modernism Furniture and Acessories: Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-89689-969-8.
  3. ^ a b c d Habegger, Jerryll (2005). Sourcebook of Modern Furniture (Third Edition). New York, New York: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-73170-5.
  4. ^ a b Abercrombie, Stanley (1995). George Nelson: the Design of Modern Design. Cambridge. Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-01142-6.
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