From time to time, people with a 40- or 50-year-old upholstered Eames Fiberglass Chair ask me how to reupholster it. I pretty much always say, “Don’t. It’s different if you buy a new upholstered Eames Fiberglass Chair from Herman Miller. You’re in luck with those because they have removable, recyclable upholstery pads—the first of their kind in more than 40 years. Unfortunately, vintage Eames owners do not have this option. So why do I suggest a patch? First, no matter how talented the upholsterers are, they usually don’t have access to the same equipment as Herman Miller workers. Even if they did, they usually don’t have the training and years of experience working with this unique upholstery. If they do have the skill set, re-upholstery is labor intensive and expensive. Another reason to patch a vintage Eames chair is that it is congruent with the practices and beliefs of Charles and Ray Eames. In an interview towards the end of Charles’s life, he said it was always his dream to have “well-darned socks.”
Darned socks are socks with holes that have been re-sewn, usually a very noticeable repair. They function just as well as new socks. Carla Hartman, Eames Office Education Director and eldest Eames grandchild, tells a similar story about Ray: Two matrons were standing behind her at a cocktail party. Thinking they were out of earshot, one whispered to the other, “Oh, look at that patch on Ray Eames’s cape. You’d think with all of the money Mr. Eames makes, he would buy his wife a new frock.” Well, he could, but he didn’t. The design duo didn’t believe in throwing away things they liked. They believed in repairing goods and continuing to use them. There is an ancient Japanese aesthetic philosophy called wabi sabi that relates to this idea of embracing the imperfect. In part, it’s about the beauty of transience and a celebration of how objects look after years of use. The Smithsonian presented an exhibition that relates to this called Golden Seams.
It explored the very visible yet beautiful patches on prized Japanese ceramics and porcelain. You can read more about this exhibition by clicking here. If you have a vintage upholstered Eames Fiberglass Chair with a hole or split seam, and you can repair it by using matching or contrasting electrical tape on Naugahyde or a patch on Hopsak. You won’t be the first to do this. This is a photograph of an Eames Fiberglass Side Chair from the Eames Family Collection. You’ll notice that the chair, which is a working model that Charles and Ray kept on hand as part of their study collection, had a hole in its original green naugahyde upholstery. What did Charles and Ray do to fix it? They patched it with contrasting electrical tape. You can do the same.Top MidcenturyMidcentury DesignersModern DesignersVintage HermanHerman MillerRoundedCentury ModernThe TopForwardWe’ve rounded up some of the top #midcentury designers to help you distinguish their work.Herman Miller came into being in 1923 when a company man by the name of D. J. De Pree (1891-1990) bought the majority shares of the Michigan Star Furniture Company, with the help of his father-in-law, for whom he named the new venture.
Like other furniture manufacturers in West Michigan at the time, De Pree focused on the production of replicas of ornate, 18th- and 19th-century European wood furnishings, until a bankruptcy scare brought on by the Great Depression drove him to seek a new direction. In 1931, De Pree brought in commercial artist Gilbert Rohde, who convinced De Pree that honest, functional designs characterized by clean, simple lines were the way forward—and thus set the course for Herman Miller’s influence on what would become known as the midcentury modern style. Two years later, the first Rohde-designed collection debuted at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. After Rohde passed away in 1944, De Pree hired architect-designer George Nelson as the company’s first official design director. By crafting a new, compelling corporate identity and collaborating with some of the most visionary designers of the day—Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Girard—Nelson earned the company international acclaim.
Under his leadership, Herman Miller created some of the 20th century’s most iconic objects, such as the Eameses’ DCM “Pototo Chip” Chair (1945/46), Molded Fiberglass Chair (1950), and Eames Lounge Chair (1956); Noguchi’s Noguchi Table (1948); and Nelson’s own Bubble Lamps (1955) and Marshmallow Sofa (1965), to name a few. Notably, the Action Office Project I series by Robert Propst (1964) paved the way for adjustable and semi-enclosed work environments (a.k.a. cubicles) at a time when modernist design was increasingly adopted as the style for American corporate interiors. More recent office bestsellers include Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick’s ubiquitous Aeron Chair (1994) and Studio 7.5’s high-tech, environmentally friendly Mirra Chair (2003). Today Herman Miller and German manufacturer Vitra share many of the same licenses for midcentury modern masterpieces, the former sold in North America and the later in Europe. Much debate surrounds whether one produces better products than the other.
The rivalry between the two companies notwithstanding, Herman Miller pieces have been extensively exhibited and acquisitioned into the permanent collections of institutions such as New York’s Museum of Modern Art, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, and even Weil am Rhein’s Vitra Design Museum—and many, many more. * All images courtesy of Herman Miller.Seatpad for your Eames fiberglass chair Add Item to Cart Buy with Confidence with Charles & Ray Eames Good/Fair — This vintage item remains fully functional, but it shows sign of age through scuffs, dings, faded finishes, minimal upholstery defects, or visible repairs. Vintage, Design Classics, Minimalist, Modernist Front Door Delivery - 2 to 4 weeks Import duty is not included in the prices you see online. You may have to pay import duties upon receipt of your order. Returns accepted within 14 days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items (Included in Every Order) A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep.
You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery. (Optional Upgrade at Checkout) A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery.