Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Eames Lounge and Ottoman


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller


Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller

Who doesn't recognize the classic icon of modern furniture design, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman? The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman lives in museums like MoMA in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago and in stylish interiors everywhere. The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman has been the subject of documentary films and books. It even has its own fan website. Calling it a classic is an understatement. It's the quintessential example of mid-century design—elegant and profoundly comfortable too.

The first Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman was made as a gift for Billy Wilder, the director of "Some Like It Hot," "Irma La Douce," and "Sunset Blvd." The heritage of the chair goes back to the molded plywood chairs pioneered by the Eameses in the 1940s. Charles Eames said his goal for the chair was that it be "a special refuge from the strains of modern living."


Original Vintage Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

When the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman was introduced in 1956, there was nothing else like it. The design was completely new. The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman has not only endured for more than 50 years—it has become one of the significant furniture designs of the 20th century. Instantly recognizable. And still fresh.

Even a unique and beautiful chair would never have lasted if it were not comfortable. The comfort built into the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman helps explain its enduring popularity, compared to other chairs that are also considered icons of 20th century design.

Like all classics, the chair and ottoman just get better with age. Both are hand-assembled with great attention paid to the details. Shells are 7-ply cherry, natural cherry, walnut, or santos palisander, a richly grained veneer that looks like the Brazilian rosewood used on the original chair but is a sustainable tropical wood.

Herman Miller changed one aspect of the original chair—the original Brazilian rosewood is an endangered, non-sustainable wood, which Herman Miller stopped using two decades ago. All veneers used now on the chair and ottoman are from sustainably managed forests. Herman Miller uses 24% recycled materials in the chair and ottoman, which both are 29% recyclable. It's much more likely, however, that you will pass this chair on to another generation.

The first Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman produced by Herman Miller, in 1956, made its public debut on Arlene Francis's Home show, a predecessor of the Today show. Commenting on the unique design, Charles Eames told Francis, "We've never designed for a fashion, and the Herman Miller furniture company has never, ever requested that we do pieces for a market." During the interview, a short film was shown in which a man--Charles described him as "a typical Herman Miller employee"--assembled and disassembled the lounge chair, showing how simple the design was. Francis ended the segment by quoting something she said she had read about Charles and Ray: "The Eameses' desire to move freely in a world of enormous and unlimited possibilities is combined with a very accurate sense of discrimination and taste. It's an ability to select among the unlimited possibilities and return considerable richness to the world."

One of Charles and Ray Eames' most well known designs, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are hallmarks of mid-century modern design. Combining comfort with a luxurious look, it's easy to see why this set remains so popular today.

Charles and Ray Eames are arguably the most influential designers of the 20th century. Their work can still be found in homes today, and their influence on design cannot be questioned.


Original Vintage Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The authentic and fully authorized Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is manufactured by Herman Miller.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller

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