In 1950 the DAW (Dining height Armchair Wooden base) was released after years of paper mâché prototypes and fine tuning by infamous design duo, Ray and Charles Eames. Fascinated with the study of the form of the human body, the Eames’ where spurred on to explore the concept of design for the body’s curves and comfort. After constant sketching and study of the human form, coupled with rigorous experimentation and trial and error, the beautifully moulded, fibreglass enforced plastic chair was born. Fitting perfectly to the shape of the body the DAW chair gives both comfort and pleasure to all of whom chose to sit within its form. “The details are not the details. They make the design.” The Eames where emphatic in their belief of good design – not just as a way to sell products – but rather as a way to improve peoples lives. With this in mind we must consider whether the replica chair improves our dining experience as we sit around the table with family and friends, cocooning our body and enveloping its curves, or does it merely act as a stool on which to perch ourselves?
It is with some irony that Charles and Ray Eames designed their iconic range of furniture with a view to allow mass production. Of course in the new millennium we now face the conundrum of mass-produced fakes outselling the original design. The cheaper rip offs now being more dispensable and therefore making them prime landfill fodder in today’s ‘throw away’ society. How to spot a fake Eames DAW SHELL COLOUR The most noticeable difference between the real and replica. The real eames is a chalky white where as the replica is a much brighter white. FIXTURES The Real eames has black screw to match the black frame. The replica however had chrome screws. TIMBER COLOUR A notable difference. The Replica had a much blonder finish. TIMBER DOWEL On the Replica the timber edges were splintered and un finished, decidedly less polished than the Real Eames. SYMMETRY Near perfect on the Real while this attention to detail was no where to be found on the replica.
How to style the Eames Chair in any setting TRADITIONAL Take the chair back to its roots with classic Eames Styling using blond timber, skins and dirty hues. Minimalist with a nod to retro inventions help to ensure this classic chair is shown in the exact fashion in which it was created. OLD & NEW Mix the vintage with the contemporary to achieve the on trend look of fusing the old with the new. Scour garage sales, ebay and the ever reliable source at second hand stores to find vintage pieces that can tie in with present day designs and that will successfully add to the character of your space. FAMILY To ensure your space does not take itself too seriously and is forgiving of ‘vegemite fingers’ be sure to look for sturdy, durable pieces that can be wiped down or are added too with a bit of dirty ‘character’. Perfect for a quick wipe down, the Eames chair was made for family in mind. Mix with pieces that can also stand all that a family can throw at it. CORPORATE Sleek lines, contemporary spaces fuse well with the soft curved shape of the DAW chair and its mellow wooden legs.
Dress a corporate space with tailored pieces and monochromatic colours and let the chair do the talking for personality in the room. Forgot your username or email?If you've never had experience with an auction house before, aside from indulging in the odd spot of Antiques Roadshow, the prospect can seem both intimidating and costly. As it turns out, auctions are growing in popularity as a retail space for clued-in mid-century furniture, art and design enthusiasts to find original pieces for good value prices. "The auction market has come a long way in the last 10 years to become probably one of the most exciting retail markets today," says Andrew Shapiro, Managing Director of Shapiro, one of Australia's leading auction houses located in Woollahra, Sydney. Years ago, auctions were all part of box lots and general sales, geared for experienced and professional collectors, making it difficult for a new collector. Now, auctions are in themed sales, making it more approachable for the general public.
"It teaches your eye where to look, and what to look at, how to look at things," says Shapiro. "It's a great consumer-friendly space for the general public to find original pieces at great value." Shapiro was the first in Australia to specialise in 20th and 21st century design auctions, regularly stocking designers such as Ano Jacobsen, Fitz Hanso, Kelment Meedmore, all sourced from Australia. They've sold pieces to galleries and museums around, including The Powerhouse in Sydney, The National Gallery in Melbourne and Canberra, and the art gallery of Western Australia. Shapiro tells us Australian's are in a great position to pick up amazing mid-century pieces from auction. "Many mid-century pieces were bought around the 1956 Olympics, when Australia wanted to look as sophisticated as it could, so there were huge imports of mid-century design," he says. Eero Aarnio (Finnish, b. 1932) Ball Chair, Designed 1968, Estimate, $3000-5000. Eero Saarinen (Finnish, 1910-1961), Dining Table, Designed c. 1957.
Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) Chaise Longue Prototype, $1500-2000. Ettore Sottsass (Italian, 1917-2007) Tahiti Lamp, Designed 1981, Estimated $800- $1200 The benefits of auction buys: If you've been lusting over an original Eames chair in your local designer furniture store, but don't have the $15,000 to cough up, auctions represent really good value. "The same piece which might be $15,000 brand new can be estimated for $5,000 at auction," says Shapiro. Although you might be tempted to buy a replica of the same piece at $900, Shaprio warns you'll get what you pay for. "Replicas aren't exact so the general quality isn’t there in the structure, framing or materials," he says. "They're not built to last, and most repairers won't touch them, so it's likely to end up on the curb in you next move." An original piece, will also intrinsically gain value the longer you keep it, so you automatically have a return on investment, which you won't find from somewhere like Ikea.
It's not just about the designer names at auction, you'll also find affordable furniture pieces within the auction theme that are estimated at below your standard retail buy, such as mid-century coffee tables for around $400. And if you're into sustainability, there's also the added smugness of investing once in an original recycled piece. Shapiro's guide for buying furniture through auction: Finding a piece: Auctions are advertised in various papers and auction houses. In terms of making the right investment choice, Shapiro says there's no right or wrong. "You should always go for something that catches your eye," he says. "20th century furniture are the largest collected pieces in the world. They really are the new antiques, and nine out of ten times if you sell the piece in 10 years you’ll get your money back or make profit when it's time to sell. You’re buying pieces that are on the gallery and museum floors, so it has proven value, meaning there's no way to buy the wrong thing."
The viewing: This is when you come in and take a look at the piece, receive the reports and take some measurements. It can give you time to check it against furniture stores and have a look around. You don’t have to come to the viewing. You can look at everything online. You can send an email, asking for the condition report. Condition reports: Make sure you ask for a condition report and look over it before the auction. If you can't make the booking this is your way of making sure you're satisfied with the piece. Look out for terms such as AF, which means All Faults, as this outlines that the piece might have hairline cracks, small faults, and it’s on you to request a condition report. How to bid: There's four ways to bid on an item at auction; pre-bid in person on the night, over the phone and online. Although pre-bidding, where you leave an amount with the auction house and they bid on your behalf, and online bidding is increasing in popularity, especially for international buyers, Shapiro recommends if you can't make it to an auction in person, arrange for the auction house to call you when your lot is coming up and bid live over the phone.
This way you don’t run the risk of missing out on a piece by $50. Grant Featherston (Australian, 1922-1995) Expo Mark 2 Sound Chair, Designed 1967, Estimated $3000-5000. Clement Meadmore (Australian, 1929-2005) Four Cord Chairs, Designed 1953, $800 - $1200. Michele De Lucchi for Memphis 'First' Chair, Estimate $800-$1200 Tips for first timers: 1. View before you bid: The viewing is important because you have to understand the condition. There’s no point buying something that’s going to cost you far more to restore than you’re anticipating. You can over spend in the restoration process. 2. Go for what you love: Don't get caught up with designer labels. If it's unsigned or not by someone noteworthy but you love the piece, go for it! Rarity is not for a new collector to worry about. 3. Make a little bid on everything: "I’m a firm believer if you’re new, you should leave bids on everything because you never know what will happen on auction day," Shaprio says. "