Created by architect-turned-Fortune writer-turned designer George Nelson in 1947, Herman Miller's Nelson Platform Bench is both an icon of mid-century design and a remarkably versatile piece of furniture. It's made with sturdy U-shaped ebonized wood legs and a top of solid Walnut slats that are sorted into aesthetically pleasing combinations, assembled by hand, settling neatly into lap joints, and given a clear-coat finish. The resulting platform can work as a seat, a table, or, as seen in Herman Miller publications from the period, serve as a base platform for bookshelves, plants, record players, and more.