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Behind George Nelson's Marshmallow Sofa there's a creative mind called Irving Harper.

Discover Irving Harper: the man behind the Marshmallow Sofa.

In the design and art world, there are many creatives that remain not enough appreciated. And Irving Harper is the proof.

Harper was the mind behind iconic designs from the mid-century modern furniture era — mainly as an employee of industrial designers like George Nelson and Herman Miller. A great part of his work was just credited to him late in his life even tho the impact he had on both companies remains relevant 'til this day.

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a dog sitting on a red marshmallow sofa made with leather material

The former Nelson Office's design director crafted pieces, such as the Marshmallow Sofa, that helped shift how furniture is seen.

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - The Marshmallow Sofa's designer Irving Harper sitting on a suede armchair

The story behind this design is quite curious, as Harper (at the time a young designer at Nelson's company) was approached by an inventor who had created a durable injection plastic disc that he insisted could be produced inexpensively. With that pitch, the two designers arranged 18 disks side-by-side on a steel frame.

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a living room with a red marshmallow sofa made with leather material

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a living room with a black Marshmallow Sofa made with leather material

The inventor's cushions turned out to be a failure, but their idea of floating cushions was so intriguing they had to do a leather version of it.

Even tho every leather design is easy to clean, this sofa takes it further since every single cushion can be taken off the structure for better cleaning. Practicality king.

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a colorful marshmallow sofa made with leather material

Quickly turned into a Pop Art iconic furniture, the Marshmallow Sofa represented what Harper's work would mean for the rest of his career: simple solutions that no one dared to think of.

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a living room with suede armchairs and a brown leather sofa

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a studio with a black marshmallow sofa made with leather material

METCHA - Irving Harper - Marshmallow Sofa - a studio with a chair made with leather material

Tap here to know why the Genesis leather armchair is the synthesis of boldness.

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