With graceful, sweeping lines and a distinctly modern design, the iconic Eames lounge chair debuted in 1956 and remains in production. Known as the 670 Eames chair and 671 Eames ottoman, these incorporate layered plywood seat shells, wood veneer, and leather cushions. Designers Charles Eames and his wife Ray-Bernice created the lounge chair as commissioned by Herman Miller Furniture. Consumers can find an Eames chair from brick-and-mortar stores and online sources, such asBefore purchasing a vintage Eames chair, consumers should consider a few tips. Shortly after the Eames lounge chair hit the market, imitators soon followed. Herman Miller took out an advertisement that cautioned consumers to avoid fakes. Plycraft produced a notable knock-off, which was considerably taller and bulkier than the original chair. The genuine headrest and chair back have equal proportions. Additionally, the ottoman and the seat cushions are interchangeable. Charles Eames believed the chair should have "the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt."
The chair's design originates with traditional and comfortable English club chairs. Consumers may wish to become familiar with the distinctive details of the Eames chair through reference books. While many faux Eames chairs recline when the user leans back, the authentic item does not. The seat is low, and these lounge chairs contain a permanent recline. The armrests curve outward, following the flare of the seat's shell. A second piece of leather welting covers authentic armrests. Copies have flat armrests and may have one piece of leather covering the edge. Many vintage Eames lounge chairs have paper labels on their undersides but about 30 percent of early original examples never had a label. These cream, red, or black labels typically read "Designed by Charles Eames" or "Charles Eames." The manufacturer's label reads "Herman Miller Furniture Company" and displays the company logo, which has two sharp prongs with a U-shaped interior. The factory location indicates Venice, California or Zeeland, Michigan.
Early chairs should not have a zip code on the address, as they were not in use in the 1950s. The stickers may also include the plywood manufacturer name "Evans." Authentic Eames lounge chairs utilized specific materials in the exterior shell and cushions. Brazilian rosewood, walnut, cherry, or santos palisander construct the shell. Herman Miller ceased production of chairs made with Brazilian rosewood, which embargoed worldwide in 1992. Age should softly wear the original finish of an Eames chair. It is possible that the chair's owner refinished or replaced the shell if the finish looks brand new. The urethane foam-filled cushions should be 6 inches deep and upholstered with soft leather. Look for black, tan, cream, or other muted colors in vintage examples. The seat cushions attach to the plywood shells with invisible rings and clips, which eliminate the need for bolts and screws. Authentic Eames lounge chairs display careful attention to detail that extends to the metalwork's fit and finish.
Potential buyers should examine several crucial details to ensure that the chair is a true Eames. The ottoman has a four-legged base with legs that rise slightly toward the center pedestal. The chair's base contains five legs. Sets with the wrong number of legs are copies. Bases contain die-cast aluminum that is powder-coated black and the trim is polished aluminum. The feet should have adjustable glides made of stainless steel or rubber shock mounts. The threaded glides allow the chair to stay level. The top and bottom elements of the chair back connect with two die-cast aluminum braces. Chair backs with square tubular braces indicate a copy. Authentic Eames lounge chairs should not have any exposed bolts or screws. Consumers should check the connection point between the legs and the center post. There should be a clean weld with no caps to hide bolts or uneven welds. While vintage pieces should have well cared for shells and leather, consumers may replace consumables, such as the shock mounts or rubber tips on the feet, without affecting the value of the chair.
Replacing the rubber shock mounts can extend the chair's life, especially if used frequently. Once you decide on a vintage Eames chair, begin your search on any eBay page. Enter a term, such as "Eames lounge chair," into the search box and browse the listings. You can refine your search by specifying condition, color, or year. Because of the size of these pieces, look for sellers near your location. Be sure the seller is amenable to an in-person inspection and pickup before committing to the transaction. Check out the seller's feedback history and selling policies for additional confidence in purchasing a vintage Eames chair. What is a fair market price for 1970s Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman ? Ballpark numbers are all I ask, just to make sure the deal is in the ballpark. Please state 3 prices: Poor, Average, Mint.The page you were looking for could not be found. If you followed a link on this site to get here, please contact the administrator so it can be corrected.
Real Estate Sales Trends The Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman are furnishings made of molded plywood and leather, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller furniture company. They are officially titled Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671) and were released in 1956 after years of development by designers. It was the first chair that the Eameses designed for a high-end market. Examples of these furnishings are part of the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Charles and Ray Eames aimed to develop furniture that could be mass-produced and affordable, with the exception of the Eames Lounge Chair. This luxury item was inspired by the traditional English Club Chair. The Eames Lounge Chair is an icon of Modern style design, although when it was first made, Ray Eames remarked in a letter to Charles that the chair looked "comfortable and un-designy". Charles's vision was for a chair with "the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt."
The chair is composed of three curved plywood shells: the headrest, the backrest and the seat. In early production, beginning in 1956 and running through the very early 1990s, the shells were made up of five thin layers of plywood which were covered by a veneer of Brazilian rosewood. The use of Brazilian rosewood was discontinued in the early 1990s, and current production since then consists of seven layers of plywood covered by finishing veneers of cherry, walnut, Palisander rosewood (a sustainably grown wood with similar grain patterns to the original Brazilian versions), and other finishes. The layers are glued together and shaped under heat and pressure. Earlier models are differentiated from newer models by the sets of rubber spacers between the aluminum spines and the wood panels first used in the earliest production models (and then hard plastic washers used in later versions) early first series versions of the chair used three screws to secure the armrests, second series models used two, the domes of silence (glides/feet) on the chair base had thinner screws originally (1950's era) attaching them to the aluminium base
, these are not compatible with later chairs. In the earlier models, the zipper around the cushions may have been brown or black as well, and in newer models the zippers are black. The shells and the seat cushions are essentially the same shape, and composed of two curved forms interlocking to form a solid mass. The chair back and headrest are identical in proportion, as are the seat and the ottoman. Early ottomans had removable rubber slide on feet with metal glides. Early labels are oblong foil type. The Eameses constantly made use of new materials. The pair's first plywood chair—the Eames Lounge Chair Wood (LCW)—made use of a heavy rubber washer glued to the backrest of the chair and screwed to the lumbar support. These washers, which have come to be called 'shock mounts', allow the backrest to flex slightly. This technology was brought back in the 670 Lounge chair. The backrest and headrest are screwed together by a pair of aluminum supports. This unit is suspended on the seat via two connection points in the armrests.
The armrests are screwed to shock mounts which are connected only via glue to the interior of the backrest shell, allowing the backrest and headrest to flex when the chair is in use. This is part of the chair's unusual design, as well as its weakest link. The shock mounts have been known to tear free causing catastrophic collapse and damage. Other creative uses of materials include the seat cushions - which eschew standard stapled or nailed upholstery. Instead, the cushions are sewn with a zipper around the outer edge that connects them to a stiff plastic backing. The backing affixes to the plywood shells with a series of hidden clips and rings. This design, along with the hidden shock mounts in the armrest allow the outside veneer of the chair to be unmarred by screws or bolts. The chair has a low seat which is permanently fixed at a recline. The seat of the chair swivels on a cast aluminum base, with glides that are threaded so that the chair may remain level. The Eames Lounge Chair first appeared[1] on the Arlene Francis Home show broadcast on the NBC television network in the USA in 1956.
Immediately following the debut, Herman Miller launched an advertising campaign that highlighted the versatility of the chair. Print ads depicted the 670 in a Victorian parlor, occupied by a grandmother shelling peas on the front porch of an American Gothic style house, and in the middle of a sunny field of hay. One notable advertisement was produced by the Eameses for Herman Miller warning consumers against imitations and knockoffs[]. It has been frequently featured in Frasier as a piece of furniture in the title character's apartment. In the final episode of the series, Martin Crane remarks that he finds it comfortable and hints that he may not have needed his recliner after all. A knockoff of the Eames Lounge Chair has been frequently featured in the show House, in the protagonist's office. Malory Archer's office chair in Archer is also an animation of the Eames Lounge Chair. Since its introduction, the chair has been in continuous production by Herman Miller in America. Later, Vitra (in cooperation with the German furniture company Fritz Becker KG) began producing the chair for the European market.