One could argue that Eames was to furniture design what VW was to car design - functional, durable, aesthetically pleasing and to be affordable to the masses, with the exception of their lounge chair and ottoman which has always commanded a premium price. For most of us, purchasing a licensed reproduction Eames chair, from Herman Miller in the USA or Vitra in Europe, carries a hefty price tag (over £5,000 on average) and yes I say 'licensed reproduction', as unless you are lucky enough to find an authentic vintage chair in a garage sale or via Ebay then it is, technically, a reproduction, under license, of the original design. Fuelled by demand for such an iconic piece of furniture, the replica Eames lounger market has exploded in recent years. Design purists have (begrudgingly) accepted that some of the good reproductions available are pretty exact to the specification and quality of the original design, but how does one choose the good reproduction, from the minefield of poor copies and cheaply made imitations?
First and foremost, it would be wise to dismiss anything under circa £500. Just ask yourself, would you really get a good quality leather lounge chair and ottoman, properly engineered and finished in high quality upholstery at that price level? The old adage of "if it's too good to be true, then it probably isn't" remains. There are mid-priced ranges, which all vary in finish and detail, up to ones (such as the ones we retail), which we consider to be as close to the original as possible in terms of quality, attention to detail and finish. Here is our buyers guide for choosing a replica Eames lounge chair: There were manufacturing variations to the chairs over the years and different bases were designed for the US and European markets and slight differences were designed on US and European models so dimensions of models varied and some were produced slightly wider and larger. There is a wealth of information available online about the history of these iconic chairs so it is also worth doing some research on the different styles and the design history, to help with the decision on choice of base, leather and veneer you would like, prior to going shopping.
You can also view further details and specification on our Eames style lounge chairs at http://onske.co.uk/products/inspired-by-eames-lounge-chair-and-ottoman-in-italian-leatherVitra Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman - Santos Palisander Shell Please select a leather colour Please select an option Lounge Chair and Ottoman Lounge Chair Only Ottoman Only Glides for bottom of feet Felt Glides for Hard Floor Plastic Glides for Carpet Design : Charles & Ray Eames Year of Design : 1956/2010 Material : Bent plywood, cast aluminium, removable leather upholstery Dimensions - Classic SizeChair: H: 84cm; D: 91cmOttoman: H: 42cm; Dimensions - Larger SizeChair: H: 89cm; D: 92cmOttoman: H: 42cm; Delivery: 6 - 8 weeks Quickship Delivery : 2 - 3 Weeks for following versions The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is the epitome of a design classic in furniture terms. Manufactured under licence from the Eames estate by Vitra this is one of the most famous original designs by Charles & Ray Eames.
Created in 1956 it is now a classic in the history of modern furniture - the Chair and Ottoman was originally designed as a modern interpretation of the traditional club chair. It consists of three laminated wooden shells attached to a die cast aluminium frame on shock mounts, giving a flexible connection. Soft leather (nappa cowhide) upholstery sections provide the comfort. The base is swivel on the chair and fixed on the ottoman. There are a number of variations to the Lounge Chair design. This version has a Santos Palisander (rosewood) wooden shell which comes in a range of complementary leathers to suit the wood tones. The base can be in either chrome, polished aluminium, or black with polished aluminium detail on the horizontal surfaces. Furthermore, since the average person's height has increased since 1956 when the design was first realised, the lounge chair now comes in two sizes - classic (as per the original) or new, larger dimensions for today's taller individuals. Whilst there are a number of inferior copies of the Lounge Chair available online at a fraction of the price, often labelled as 'Eames inspired', true connoisseurs will appreciate the quality of this original.
The Lounge Chair is a bespoke piece of furniture which will give many years of lounging pleasure. Besides anything else it's a truly comfortable chair - anyone who already own one of these will vouch for this. See other Charles & Ray Eames designs. See other Lounge Chairs & Chaise. See the Vitra collection. Watch the Making of the Eames Lounge Chair Video Utility Retail Ltd 2017 | ‘Why don’t we make an updated version of the old English club chair?’ With this comment, Charles Eames initiated the complex development of the Lounge Chair, which went into production exactly sixty years ago in 1956. Vitra began to produce the Lounge Chair in Weil am Rhein in 1959 and has used the same manufacturing methods ever since. The chair eventually became established as one of the most significant furniture designs of the twentieth century. To mark its 60th anniversary, Vitra is now launching the Lounge Chair and the accompanying Ottoman as a limited edition with fabric covers, priced at £4,890 – a very attractive price in comparison with leather covers.
UPDATE: Order an Eames Lounge Chair and receive a FREE George Nelson Ball Clock in Cherrywood and Brass – until 31 January 2017, while stocks last. The Eames Lounge Chair is one of the great modern furniture classics and the most famous piece by the American designer couple Charles and Ray Eames. But even classics that have been on the market for decades need to be further developed and updated. That was a belief embraced by Charles and Ray Eames themselves, who created various versions of the Lounge Chair over the years. Vitra carries on this tradition in the spirit of the designers and in close collaboration with the Eames Office. When Charles and Ray Eames designed the Lounge Chair in 1956, their primary aim was to create a soft and comfortable piece of seating furniture. They set new standards with their novel interpretation of the classic club chair: their model was light, elegant, modern and comfortable. With its functional perfection and careful construction, timeless materials and balanced proportions, the Lounge Chair has established itself over its sixty-year history as one of the most significant classics – as a product from another era that remains as relevant as ever.
Since its initial introduction, the armchair has been available with various veneers, leather upholstery colours and base versions. In the early years, the Lounge Chair was occasionally offered with fabric covers – however, Vitra has always produced it exclusively in leather. In the Twill fabric covers, the chair and ottoman cost £4,890 – approx 20% less than leather. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of production in 2016, Vitra is now offering a fabric-covered Lounge Chair Twill and Ottoman for a limited period of time. The high-quality Twill fabric from the Vitra Colour & Material Library imbues the chair with cosy softness and inviting warmth – even though it is very hard-wearing (contract grade: 100,000 Martindale). The Lounge Chair Twill is available in the classic combination of dark-reddish Santos Palisander wood and black aluminium frame, in the new large dimensions. The Lounge Chair Twill and Ottoman with fabric covers are marked with a corresponding plaque and come with a ’60 Years in Production’ certificate.