Herman Miller and Wright Launch Vintage Capsule Collection 

To celebrate its 100th anniversary year, Herman Miller partnered with auction house Wright to launch Herman Miller Vintage, a curated collection featuring 100 vintage pieces produced throughout the brand’s rich history.  

With so many possible ways to mark the centennial milestone, a selection of items that highlights not only Herman Miller, but the best of design, was the focus to mark the special occasion. “Putting together a vintage collection was one of the first ideas that we landed on as we started to think about celebrating our 100th birthday, because it is a great moment to have a bigger look back. These pieces embrace all sides of Herman Miller and appeal to collectors, but also to all kinds of design fans,” said Ben Watson, chief creative and product officer at Herman Miller. 

Signature pieces from the Herman Miller Vintage collection, on view in the Los Angeles showroom. Photos courtesy of Herman Miller

The collaboration with Wright was an ideal arrangement, as both companies are known as destinations for heirloom-quality furniture, and Watson explained that the Wright team’s expertise and appreciation of the brand complements their own. “The logistics, the sourcing, and the archival research is challenging, and so having a partner that was as passionate as we were was a key criteria.” 

For Richard Wright, founder and CEO of Wright, Herman Miller furniture, particularly the output of the Eames Office, has been foundational. He first sold a vintage Eames chair in 1987, and since the launch of Wright in 2000, a total of 3,672 Herman Miller pieces have been sold. “The work of Charles and Ray Eames has been braided into my career,” he said. “We leapt at the opportunity to partner with Herman Miller, and it was a good fit for me on a professional and personal level.” 

The special order 670 lounge chair and 671 ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames, 1956.

Yet choosing from the products upon products that were manufactured over a century wasn’t a simple task, even with the experts on hand. It was essential to have a balanced collection, with a mix of signature pieces and more obscure Herman Miller furniture—and all interesting from a design perspective. “We set out a framework, because we wanted some structure for the stories we wanted to be able to tell,” Watson noted. “Of course, the iconic furniture is here, but we also wanted to remind people of some chapters that they may have forgotten, whether it is an unusual variant or an unexpected combination of materials.” 

Sourcing on a condensed timeline, Wright said that while he wanted to obtain objects in good condition, he focused on providing a representative sampling. “We wanted to show some of the breadth of Herman Miller’s output, so we have Gilbert Rohde and some of the later designers. It had to be broadly appealing so that a significant number of people could actually consider buying something.” 

The Kangaroo chair designed by George Nelson & Associates (1955), features vibrant green wool upholstery.

The rarest Herman Miller furniture has a six-figure price tag attached, but these pieces range on average from $500 to $10,000 to reach a wider audience of design enthusiasts, rather than just the exclusive world of connoisseurs. And because Herman Miller has always valued craftsmanship over the styles of the moment, anything from the collection looks perfectly in place in a contemporary setting. “Herman Miller’s commitment to original design means it is about making things that feel fresh. They are truly timeless, and we wanted to shine a light on that,” Watson said.  

Wright noted that the collection showcases quality at all levels, not only a single facet, like a particular finish or fabrication technique. “We wanted it to be about Herman’s Miller’s greatest hits, not necessarily from a collector’s point of view, but looked at through a design history  lens,” he explained. The long-term value of the brand is on display. These pieces stand the test of time historically and aesthetically.” 

Colorful stripes give an Alexander Girard stool a whimsical touch.

Made to last, they are also the antithesis of the merchandise promoted in our fast furniture culture. “Our commitment to a more sustainable future is at the forefront. The Herman Miller chairs or other objects on view were made years ago and they are still serving us,” Watson added. 

The full collection is now available online, and select pieces will be showcased through the end of October at Herman Miller’s Park Avenue store in Manhattan and the contract showroom in Los Angeles, as well as the Wright showroom in Chicago. Wright said that looking at items closely is a reminder of how design can enhance our lives. “You can see the way the styles change through the decades, and how sensibilities evolve. From an Art Deco-style cabinet to moving through to a more Seventies aesthetic, there’s a visual joy.”

Herman Miller’s Steelframe desk, model 411 and DAX, 1950/c. 1960.
A Herman Miller rocker, designed by Peter J. Protzman, 1975.
The Herman Miller Vintage collection includes iconic pieces and lesser-known objects.