We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Eames Chair?

By Jennifer Byer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,760
Share

Close your eyes and think of a 1950's chair. You got it? More than likely than not, you pictured an Eames chair. Charles Eames, and his wife Ray Eames, began designing their chairs in the forties with a single piece of formed plywood.

In the forties, shortly after marrying, the Eames' moved to California and set to work designing their soon-to-be famous chairs. The idea was to form one piece of plywood into the seat of a comfortable and affordable chair. With the machine they built to mold the seats, they were able to mass-produce their product.

The first hint of success came with an order from the US Navy for plywood leg splints. The money afforded them a genuine studio and the ability to produce their first plywood chairs. Eames chairs had the distinct modern design of the mid-twentieth century. With a curved back and seat, and aluminum legs the Eames chair was both attractive and comfortable. They were so attractive that they earned the attention of the Herman Miller Furniture Group, still one of the top furniture manufacturers in the United States, making the Eames chair a hit on the public market.

The designs kept coming, and in 1956 the Eames lounge chair was introduced. When mentioned today it is this Eames chair that first comes to mind. To see one in the twenty-first century, words such as ergonomic or organic come to mind. The curved leather-upholstered back, the fifteen-degree tilt of the seat, the five star aluminum base, and the slight give that allows you to lean back all are characteristic of the Eames chair.

The Eames contribution to modern design, however, reached well past the lounge chair. Their designs extended toward toys, sculpture, graphics, and even film. In 1949, the couple designed and built a house in Pacific Palisades, California. The Eames Foundation is currently preserving this house and the legacy of Charles and Ray.

If imitation is the sincerest sign of flattery, then Charles and Ray Eames have been flattered since their designs first appeared, and they continue to be flattered to this day. At upwards of $3,000 US Dollars (USD) for a true Eames lounge and ottoman, even the knock-offs can be expensive. But the iconic place the Eames hold in twentieth century modernism will never be compromised.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-eames-chair.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.