Charles and Ray Eames designed furniture in the middle of the 20th century and revolutionized the manufacture of chairs after they introduced the Eames chair to the world.
The Eames Chair
The construction of the Eames chair was a quest to make a single piece shell chair that fit the natural contours of the body and was capable of mass production. Charles, with Ero Saarinen, won the Museum of Modern Art Organic Furniture competition in 1941. In 1945, the LCW would be called by Time magazine "the chair of the century." Although originally working with Heywood-Wakefield, the chair was subsequently distributed and manufactured by Herman Miller. Herman Miller called it "the most advanced furniture being produced in the world today." The Eames Shell Chair was also converted into the Eames Rocker by adding two runners to the design of the molded plastic chair legs.
Eames Lounge Chair
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman were first manufactured for sale in 1956 with its novel five point base. It has become known as a classic example of mid century modern furniture design as well as one of the most comfortable chairs ever made. It is still produced by Herman Miller. If you are looking for a office desk chair, this would definitely be a conversation piece for anyone interested in furniture entering your office.
Other Eames Chairs
The Eames were also involved in the testing and production of metal, fiberglass and plastic chairs, including stacking chairs and tandem seating now popular at, among other places, stadiums and airports.
Other Eames Furniture
Although the Eames are best known for the design of their chairs, they also designed a number of other pieces of mid-century modern furniture. You'll find a plywood coffee table, the elliptical "surfboard" table and the conference room table among other examples.
About Charles and Ray Eames
Charles and Ray Eames were leaders in furniture, architecture, film, and design in the 20th Century. They served as consultants to IBM, created the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California, conducted countless exhibitions and lectures, and were involved in the founding of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India. Charles Eames was the subject of the first one person furniture exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1946.
