eames® lounger chair and ottoman
Design Charles & Ray Eames,
1956
Aluminum alloy, electroplating, solid wood
The Eames lounge chair and ottoman is the culmination of Charles and Ray Eames' efforts to create comfortable and handsome lounge seating by using production techniques that combine technology and handcraftsmanship. Its heritage goes back to the molded plywood chairs pioneered by the Eameses in the 1940s. The Eames lounge chair and ottoman are considered among the most significant and collectible furniture designs of the 20th century and are part of the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art.
Charles Eames said his goal for the chair was the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." Every one is a special refuge from the strains of modern living.
The first lounge chair and ottoman, produced in 1956, was a birthday gift for friend Billy Wilder, the Academy Award-winning film director, and it made its public debut on Arlene Francis' Home show, which later became the Today show.
With a grand sense of adventure, Charles and Ray Eames turned their curiosity and boundless enthusiasm into creations that established them as a truly great husband-and-wife design team. Their unique synergy led to a whole new look in furniture. Lean and modern. Playful and functional. Sleek, sophisticated, and beautifully simple. That was and is the "Eames look."
Every lounge chair and ottoman manufactured since the original have received the same meticulous handcrafted attention. The rich veneer and supple leather suggest old-fashioned luxury translated into modern forms, setting an enduring standard for comfort and elegance. In addition, the lounge chair and ottoman are now available in a veneer called santos palisander, a lustrous veneer that has the same characteristics as the original rosewood, color and grain
chairs: 870 w | 850 d | 920 h
ottoman:570 w | 630 d | 420 h
Herman Miller was a West Michigan businessman who helped his son-in-law, D.J. De Pree, buy the Michigan Star Furniture Company in 1923. De Pree had been working at the company, which opened in 1905, since he was hired in 1909 as a clerk. De Pree knew his father-in-law was a man of integrity, so he decided to rename the company after him. By the middle of the 20th century, the name Herman Miller had become synonymous with “modern” furniture. Working with legendary designers George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, the company produced pieces that would become classics of industrial design.