The Timeless Appeal of the Iconic Eames Lounge Chair

If there has ever been a chair that invites you to sit down and   relax, it is the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.  The chair was designed by husband and wife   Charles and Ray Eames’ design team and went into production in 1956.  It immediately became synonymous with   luxury and style.

story

The history of the chair and ottoman dates back to the late 1940s   when Charles and Ray Eames took on the challenge of redesigning the concept   of the 19th century English armchair.    The Eames chair was designed as a fresh, modern version of the   comfortable, clumsy armchairs found in the elite gentlemen’s clubs.  Charles Eames once said he wanted to create   a chair that had “the warm, receptive appearance of a well-used first   baseman glove”.  The chair should   be very inviting and extremely comfortable, but still look classy and   light.  The Eames Lounge Chair first   appeared in the spotlight on the Arlene Francis Home Show, which aired on NBC   television in 1956.  It was an instant   hit.

The chair was inspired and produced for Billy Wilder, famous   Hollywood director of Sunset Blvd., Some Like it Hot and The   Apartment.

Herman Miller furniture company saw the potential of the chair and   ottoman and began commercial production a few years later.

design

The shape of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is clean and   modern, but not entirely minimalist.    Its appearance is particularly well illustrated by Ray Eames himself,   who wrote in a letter to her husband that “the chair looked comfortable   and undesigned”.  The shape of the   chair with its famous curves has gained worldwide recognition and has been   praised by design critics.  In fact, it   became part of the permanent collections of the New York Museum of Modern   Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago.    However, this interior design masterpiece is not intended solely for   exhibition.  It is still being made and   is available in stores today.

The shell of the chair is made of curved plywood that curves   around the person sitting in it, giving the chair its famous cozy, intimate   feel and offering “a special refuge from the stresses of modern   life”.  The plywood used for   manufacturing consists of seven layers.    Dry plywood sheets are laid alternately together with those covered   with glue.  Crossing the wood grain   during the stacking process provides additional strength.  Layer sheets are then pressed into the   desired shape.  The shell is provided   with a thin layer of veneer.  Brazilian   rosewood was originally used to achieve this shine, but it was replaced with   more sustainable alternatives in the early 1990s.  Customers can choose between cherry, walnut   and rosewood rosewood.  While only the   rosewood has a similar grain pattern to the original Brazilian versions, the   chair is also available in many other versions.  The shell is divided into three main   segments: a seat pan, a backrest and a headrest.  The sections are connected to one another   by steel couplings.  The rubber damper   mounts, another item on the couple’s inventions list, are located between the   couplings and the shell so that the chair can adjust to the position of the   user.  The high level of comfort is due   to the high-density urethane foam, which is then covered with supple,   high-quality leather.  Two buttons in   each segment give the upholstered parts a tufting and give the chair a   comfortable look.  The chair leans back   slightly and suggests a pleasant, relaxing feeling.  It stands on a five-legged base and rotates   at the whim of its owner.  In order to   achieve the absolute heights of comfort and relaxation, customers can combine   the Eames Lounge Chair with the matching Eames Ottoman.  The ottoman is made using the same   materials and processes and is a perfect addition to the   chair.