Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair
by Charles and Ray Eames

The Eames Lounge Chair is considered among the most significant and collectible furniture designs of the 20th century. Designed and built by the genius duo of Charles and Ray Eames, sat in and admired by countless (and comfortable) people over the years, this is the ultimate lounge chair. The rich veneer and supple leather suggest old-fashioned luxury translated into modern forms, setting an enduring standard for comfort and elegance.

The chair has been on display for decades at museums like the Art Institute of Chicago, and New York's Museum of Modern Art, and the reams of scholarly, critical, and fan writing and correspondence is enormous. It's truly one of the most famous and well-respected chairs ever built, and now it can be yours through Smart Furniture and Herman Miller (Herman Miller secured the rights to sell Eames furniture, and there isn't a more fine or trustworthy furniture company out there).

The matching Eames Ottoman can be purchased individually here.

The Eames Lounge Chair is molded by three curved plywood shells. The shells are made with several thin layers of wood veneer adhered together and shaped under heat and pressure. The plywood and cushions are the shaped the same (i.e., composed of two curved forms interlocking to form a solid mass). The head rest and back of the Eames Lounger are proportional.

• Environmentally Sound. The wood is harvested exclusively from sustainably managed forests. Additionally, much of the chair was constructed using recycled materials, and about a third of the product is itself recyclable. However, it's unlikely you'll ever recycle the chair; it's a ready-made heirloom, designed to be passed on and on and on for as long as possible, just like that well worn baseball mitt.
• Classic Comfort. Luxurious Feel. The chair has 6-inch-thick urethane foam cushions and rich leather upholstery. The effect is luxury without pretension or ostentation, and deep comfort and relaxation without resorting to the overstuffed or bulky. The chair is classically built to serve a strong purpose well, and to go no further than elegance allows when it comes to bells and whistles.
• A Place to Relax. The contours of the seat and high back welcome the sitter, and a swivel mechanism is built in. This is a chair that fits practically anywhere in your home, from the living room to the office. It's sturdy and comfortable, made for all ages, and serves as a mini-retreat from a harried life. The inspiration for the chair came from director Billy Wilder, who used to rig up lounges for brief naps while he was filming. A refuge from the storm was what he needed, and the Eames provided with the Eames Lounge Chair.
• Quality and Craftsmanship. Attention to Detail. All pieces are hand assembled. Shells are seven-ply cherry, natural cherry, walnut, or santos palisander veneer; the base and back braces are die-cast aluminum. The designers at Herman Miller are the best in the world, unparalleled in experience and quality, and the Eames Lounge Chair, exactingly built just as it was half a century ago, is just one more feather in their cap.
• Practical Features. Cushions are individually upholstered and replaceable; back cushions are interchangeable; shock mounts are resilient natural rubber.

About the Manufacturer

Herman Miller is an industry leader in the integration of cutting edge technology to furniture and other household items to make everyday life more comfortable, convenient, and stylish. Herman Miller stands out at the forefront of such fields as ergonomic technologies, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and customizable furniture items. In addition to producing some of the most outstanding office furniture in the world, Herman Miller has also taken on the responsibility of manufacturing some of the most celebrated furniture designs by some of the world's most famous designs. These "modern classics" include works by Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. Herman Miller celebrates these famous mid-century designers' works through its extraordinarily precise manufacturing techniques and industry-leading green production processes. Herman Miller is a global company with operations, sales offices, dealers, and licensees in more than 40 countries in North America, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, serving customers virtually anywhere in the world. Herman Miller is headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, while manufacturing facilities are located in the U.S., China, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

About the Designer

Charles and Ray Eames

Designers, artists, thinkers, and filmmakers- the Eameses were married for 37 years, and operated the Office of Ray and Charles Eames together for 35 of those years. They were partners in every sense of the word, sharing a home, an office, and collaborating on every piece of furniture and film they made together. For many years it was thought that Charles had been the driving force behind most of their design work, but recent findings have proven what had always been obvious about the two; they were inseparable, and the ideas they had and the projects they worked on were mutual and cooperative.

 

Charles and Ray collaborated on some of the most stunning and beautiful film and design projects of the last century. They are responsible for the Powers of Ten film, Tocatta for Toy Trains (film), The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the Eames Aluminum Group furniture, the molded plywood chair, the TimeLife chair and stool, and various award winning museum exhibitions, including Mathematica. The Eames left not a stone unturned in their lifelong quest to bring the "uncommon beauty of common thing" into modern design, and practically no medium was ever eschewed when it came to getting their point across. Separately they would be ranked extremely high on any respectable list of great designers in the 20th century, but together they were unstoppable.

The Office of Charles and Ray Eames is still operating in California, with family member Lucia (daughter) and Eames Demetrios (grandson) running the family business. A great place for innovative and now historic film, toys, furniture and exhibits, the Office of Charles and Ray Eames is a California treasure.