Recently purchased this desk/podium from an estate here in Grand Rapids Michigan (home of Herman Miller). The original owner passed away(former HM employee), and the daughter had no ideas about this pieces' origins. In all my years of collecting HM products, I have Never seen anything like this. Anbody have ideas? Who do you think was responsible for its design?
This is marked with a Herman Miller tag on the inside drawer. I believe the wood is either walnut or teak. This unit definately feels old, despite the fact that it is in immaculate condition. Upper half feels and seems constructed like the Nelson CSS units. Has cream formica top. Base is the same as the HM Probst/Nelson "Perch" Drafting Stools, and has been cleanly welded to a metal plate to hold the top half of the unit. Base has origonal casters. Inner drawer has a hole cut out of the center (I'm guessing that this is where some cords would go through - for like the controls to an overhead projection equipment?) I wonder if this was used/intended for the inside of the HM conference rooms only?
This desk/podium does NOT seem home made at all. This feels like an authentically manufactured HM piece - I'm guessing its either a special order, a prototype or was produced in a very limited quatity. What thoughts are out there on this unit and its designer? Any idea if it could do well at auction (Rago, Wright20, Treadway...etc? Would you spend money for this if it was on ebay? What would you use it for? How much might you spend?
it indeed looks well...
it indeed looks well constructed, it's not your average diy for sure. that combined with the references (place, employee) and it's tag, your assumption could well be true.
i for myself would think it's a one-of, made for the firm itself.
nice plycraft chair in the back, you have there, very elegant.
It seems to me that
there was a few podiums produced as part of the Executive Office Group, which therefore, would've been designed by Nelson or an Associate.
Remember, not every version of each office piece is in the current books, and I'm sure that there were blackboard units, podiums and other strictly 'for offices only' pieces that Herman Miller produced in rather small quantities.
Same probably goes for Knoll too.
Herman Miller Lectern
First of all I apologize for the reply 5 years after your post. But as we know the internet has a life of its own.
I have been searching for similar information on the same piece. I have the exact match to the piece you displayed. There is really no information out there about the designer, dates of manufacture, etc.
The only other reason for my reply is to say that it is not a "one of a kind". Whether it was sold to the public or used internally at Hermann Miller remains to be researched.
After 5 years did you find anything more about this piece that you could share?
David
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