I’ll come out and admit it, I’m not only a chair geek (read more of me waxing lyrical about my chair obsessions here) but I’m also a design snob. It is actually one of my life ambitions to own a collection of chairs which are also ‘design classics’, and learning more about them has inspired me to share some design masterpieces with you and see if anyone out there feels the same.
Today, I’m aiming high, it’s the excessively luxurious and outrageously expensive Eames lounger.
If it looks familiar thats because it’s an iconic piece, often featured in shoots, nearly always spotted in the stylish real homes edited by Living Etc and inspiring many a reproduction. (You also might have seen it on every episode but one of Frasier.) You can find the Eames chair at the Conran shop, retailing at a mere £4,779. One can dream.
*Image Credit: on-display.tumblr.com
And if there’s one single piece of furniture beautiful enough to compete with this view, it’s the Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman.
I love mid-century design, so this 1956 designed example nears perfection for me with it’s moulded plywood structure and variety of leather upholsteries. Originally produced for Herman Miller by Charles and Ray Eames (a husband and wife design team), and is now produced by Vitra for Europe.
Apparently, Charles originally intended to create a chair with ‘the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.’ The originals are now collectors items due to the rosewood veneer that was used for the back, which is now an endangered species and the originals are displayed in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
Beautiful is it not?
Tell me if you love the Eames, (or if you’re brave enough and think I might not be able to track you down and steal it,) if you own one. I will die of jealousy.
One-day-I-will-own-it Love,
Rebecca
xo
One day I will use the perks of my job to purchase a pair of these! Oh, and I might need the house to go with them
Perks of your job? Can I have some of those please?!
Ok, you twisted my arm… Yes you can get me one for Christmas! X
No! You can get me one
Please tell me that there is something out there, which look as classy without the ‘classy’ pricetag?! Anyone?!
Wow! I had no idea how expensive these were. It does look somehow familiar but has never jumped out at me before although I can appreciate the style of it, it just doesn’t fit in with our home at the moment. Maybe one day when we have ‘the house’, although I would probably buy a replica like we did with the iconic Arco lamp (paid £100 for an amazing one on ebay) as opposed to this one… http://www.heals.co.uk/lamps/flos-arco-silver-floor-light-by-achille-castiglioni/invt/611367/&bklist=icat,2,mycatref?htxt=mICUqr530oH6L3Hp0Fp9jfRU8DDRRPHv%2FkTwuuBY2a06FAqhbeMJ%2FW6LVMOy99OSpJvymy%2F3ZE9Au6jRQ2KqZg%3D%3D
I LOVE Charles and Ray Eames so much that we are actually going to give one of our kids Eames as a middle name! It’s even been considered as a first name but we think it will be a middle name now!
As for the chair – who wouldn’t ruddy love one!!!! They are A-MAZ-ING and if I won the lottery I would defiantly by a pair of them just to show off! But I think that’s the only way I could ever get one!
It’s funny I am just not a chair person – I prefer a big comfy couch! I think it was possibly the boys apartment in ‘Friends’ that has put me off chairs haha.
The pics above look very smart and elegant but just not comfy, although I have heard that they are actually very comfortable they just don’t look inviting to me.
I’d take the view on the second image though! x
Oh Clarissa it is sooooo comfortable.
Linsey – You can get reproductions for about 900 – I saw on in Redbrick Mill (Dewsbury) once. I’m going to keep looking for a vintage bargain (I can dream!) though
xo
What is the company called that make the authentic model