The images posted today by Barry Smith of his beloved Eames Executive Chair capture every angle, every sumptuous curve, coming as close to pornography as photos of furniture can come. I don’t blame him for his idolization. Charles and Ray’s design for the Time-Life Building in New York City is, for me, the epitome of the 1960s office chair: thick buttoned cushions wrapped in leather and trimmed with chrome. The glorious news for those of you lusting along with me is that Barry has six more where this came from, and they’re for sale. Thanks to the Vintage Eames pages at Eames Office, you can enjoy a 1966 brochure in PDF form, promoting the “Eames Executive Office Group”. At that time the chair was known as the “3474 Tilt-Swivel chair”. Here’s the glorious cover with photography by fashion giant HIRO (love the organizer unit with telephone mount). Like those from the brochure, Barry’s models sit on a four-castor base. The newer models shown at Herman Miller, DWR, and Eames Collector were updated in 1990 with five legs.
Also known as the Time Life Lobby Chair, more images can be found at Architonic and Artfact. Here are a couple of beautiful castor-less Lobby Chairs that were sold by Esch de Vere, London: Above: the chair made a cameo in 2004’s “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”. The following bit of trivia from the Herman Miller site is apt, following Bobby Fischer’s recent passing: In 1972, chess grand master Bobby Fischer specifically requested the Eames executive chair while he competed in the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. He said he could concentrate well in the chair. When opponent Boris Spaasky saw it, he refused to play until he got one, too. Update, Feb. 23: Barry Smith’s collection of Time-Life chairs for sale: » Time-Life Chair on eBay » 3474 Tilt-Swivel Chair on eBay » Eames Executive Chair on eBay » Eames Soft Pad Management Chair at DWR (a similar design that came a few years later)Matt LeBarre is an illustrator by trade, a long time collector of mid-century furniture, and a lover of Northwest Coast style art.
In the true Eames fashion of always taking ones pleasures seriously, he has found a way to combine these interests into beautiful artworks. It all started when LeBarre decided to create an image of an Eames 670 Lounge Chair as a totem pole. “The image turned out great and I knew I was onto something. Within several months, I had created a series of these ‘totems’ using other mid-century classics,” says LeBarre. On his website, you can find illustrations of Eames classics such as the 670 and LCW, as well as other mid-century classics such as the Noguchi Table, the Saarinen Womb Chair, and several others. After LeBarre came across a vintage Eames 670 back panel on Ebay, his 2D illustrations evolved into something else. “I thought I would use that to see if this concept would work as a three dimensional piece of art. It was successful as well (I thought) so I started acquiring more Eames parts and expanding on the theme.” He has since decorated other parts from vintage Eames plywood furniture including, an LCW seat back, a DCW seat distributary, and an entire LCW.
One of the most compelling pieces from LeBarre’s impressive collection of works is a totem design painted on panels from an Eames Molded Plywood Folding Screen. He said of this particular project: “It was the ideal piece of bent plywood to use as a totem. Its vertical dimensions were perfect for a classic totem design, but I wanted it to have more of a fifties look to it. I am a big fan of Alexander Girard and I let his sensibilities influence the graphics on this piece.” Designed in 1946, the Molded Plywood Screen was one of Charles and Ray’s numerous contributions to the world of molded plywood. They are still available today through both Herman Miller and Vitra. The screens elegantly divide rooms, create a bit of privacy, or serve as a beautiful backdrop to other furniture and objects. They are sturdy enough to stand on their own, light enough to move with ease, and flexible enough to fold up and tuck away. LeBarre felt it only right to incorporate the screens’ creators into his work of art.
“I really wanted to have a visual connection to Charles and Ray in this piece, so they just had to be in the narrative of this totem. So I had the ‘spirit animals’ clasp onto their likenesses.” How did this unique mash up of different subjects come about? According to the artist, he thought of the concept while seated in the comfort of his Eames Lounge Chair. “Why not create art that combined two of my fondest things: Northwest Coast Style art and Mid-Century Modern furniture? The simplicity of the furniture designed in the era of modernism seemed to have forms in common with the art of the First Nations people: the curved plywood of an Eames LCW, the negative space formed from an Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair, the graphic silhouette of a Noguchi Table. To me, the two worlds just seemed to make sense together. And so a new mash-up was born: Mid-Century Totems.” You can view more of Matt LeBarre’s work by clicking HERE!What's the cheapest way to buy an original Eames lounge chair?
December 10, 2016 Subscribe I'm hoping to buy a new Eames lounge chair and ottoman either next year or in 2018. What would be the cheapest way to get it? So far I found only 2 options to get (somewhat) reduced price, are there any other tricks?CALIFORNIA'Flood fighting is in our DNA': To live by the Feather River is to know its power and danger Sean Knibb's new Flowerboy Project is equal parts cafe, florist, boutique In a city that's bursting with creative collaborations, designer Sean Knibb's Flowerboy Project café/flower shop/boutique, which opens July 18 in Venice, stands out. Knibb, who has lived in Venice for 35 years, is a skilled and experienced practitioner in various realms. He's expanded from specializing in landscape work to furniture and full-service hospitality design (his firm designed the Line Hotel in Koreatown). So, after years of having the "flowerboy" name in mind, referencing the time he spent with his florist grandmother in Jamaica during childhood visits, Knibb wanted to sell fresh flowers and great coffee.
Plus "I wanted to bring different people in," he said.Enter Lindsay and Raan Parton of Alchemy Works in the Arts District, who met Knibb through mutual friends. Flowerboy Project's potential came into focus as the team bonded over their shared love of travel and collecting and selling objects from around the world.A rounded mirror-clad counter where Vittoria Coffee is served and a playful menu composed of children's magnets stand near the entrance. An original midcentury rock wall has been left in place, and pressed flower collages decorate other walls for a whimsical and thematically appropriate touch.Lush flower offerings placed near the entrance and the counter are inspired by season and color, with the palette changing every two to three weeks. Stems are sold in small, medium and large bunches (priced at $10, $20 and $30, respectively) because Knibb believes buying flowers should be "more routine" than it often is.The menu includes Sugarbloom Bakery goods, Harriet's Cheesecakes, Alma chocolates from Portland, Ore., and sandwiches from Madame Monsieur in downtown made using Clark Street Bread.
A few vintage tables and Eames chairs are situated near the rear of the shop for customers to sit, sip, read and chat.Throughout the space, Knibb designed shelves using white-pine planks and metal ladder frames to provide a clever yet unobtrusive backdrop for the Partons' home and mix of personal accessories. They've brought in a few lines they sell downtown, including Rachel Craven linens and sandals made in Italy by Capri Positano. Maison de Vacances linen throws from France, Clare V clutches, delicate white and gold-leaf porcelain dishes by Austrian artisan Andrea Baumann, Fiele Fragrances and Capsules Parfums have been selected specifically for Flowerboy Project. A wall-mounted display features Pichulik jewelry from South Africa next to locally made Marmol Radziner pieces, with fine jewelry to come. A custom Flowerboy Project version of Apolis' signature jute market tote is available too.Knibb describes aspects of the venture as "a working studio" and brick-and-mortar setting where he can sell Knibb Design's lighting, outdoor furnishings and one-of-a-kind ceramics, such as the "milk jug" planters he originally created for the Line Hotel that are crafted at the Malibu studio of his late mentor Carl Gillberg.