Vitra Clock Sunburst Clock
Vitra Clock Sunburst Clock

Sunburst Clock

$730

Made by Vitra

Designed by George Nelson

In the late 1940s, George Nelson redefined what a clock could be. Rather than a vessel for numerals, he conceived it as a sculptural object, one that could animate a wall with the same authority as a painting or relief. The Sunburst Clock is among the most expressive results of that thinking.

Wooden spikes radiate outward from a central metal hub in a composition that reads simultaneously as sun, starburst, and pure graphic form. The absence of numbers is deliberate: Nelson trusted proportion and rhythm to communicate time, and trusted the object itself to hold the room's attention.

  • Designed by George Nelson, originally conceived in the late 1940s
  • Produced by Vitra with fidelity to the original construction
  • Wooden spoke elements with a lacquered or brass-finish metal hub
  • Number-free dial with slender hands
  • Conceived as wall sculpture as much as functional timepiece

Vitra has stewarded Nelson's clock designs for decades, maintaining the material integrity and precise geometry that give each piece its enduring presence. The Sunburst sits naturally alongside other Nelson clocks as a collection, or stands alone as a single, confident gesture on a wall.

Color
Color: Black Brass

Typically ships in 2-4 weeks.

Pairs well with

Product Details

Details
  • Designed by George Nelson in 1949
  • Manufacturer by Vitra
  • Materials combination of various types of wood and metal 
  • Movement powered by quartz mechanism with included AA battery 
  • Number-free design encourages intuitive reading of time and emphasizes visual rhythm 
  • Reissued by Vitra since 1999 as part of its Wall Clocks collection 
Measurements

Diameter
18.5 inches
47 cm

Shipping & Returns

Please refer to our shipping and return & exchange policy.

Warranty

Luminaire is an authorized retailer of Vitra. The product comes with a full manufacturer warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did George Nelson design the Sunburst Clock?

Nelson designed the Sunburst Clock in 1948 as part of a broader series of wall clocks produced for the Howard Miller Clock Company. The series reimagined the domestic clock as a decorative sculptural object, drawing on the visual language of atomic-age America.

Why does the Sunburst Clock have no numbers?

Nelson deliberately omitted numerals, believing that the position and proportion of the clock's elements were sufficient for intuitive time reading. The decision also allows the object to function as wall sculpture independent of its timekeeping role.

Who manufactures the Nelson Sunburst Clock today?

Vitra has held the license to produce the George Nelson clock series since 1999, working in close collaboration with the Nelson Estate to preserve the original material specifications and proportions of each design.

What materials are used in the Vitra Sunburst Clock?

The spokes are crafted from wood and extend from a lacquered metal hub. Depending on the finish selected, the hub and accents are available in brass or painted versions, each finished to Vitra's manufacturing standards.

How does the Sunburst Clock fit within George Nelson's broader work?

Nelson served as Design Director at Herman Miller from 1945 onward and is credited with shaping the visual identity of American modernism. The clock series sits alongside his Marshmallow Sofa and Coconut Chair as objects that challenged the boundary between industrial design and fine art.

Brand & Designer

Vitra
Wooden Dolls

Vitra

Vitra is a Swiss contemporary design and furniture brand, founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum in Birsfelden, Switzerland.
George Nelson
Tripod Clock

George Nelson

An American architect, writer, and industrial designer who helped define midcentury modern furniture and the language of the modern workplace.