Design story
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller. The Eames lounge chair combines elegance and perfect comfort. The chair was originally designed back in the 1950s and is still being produced the same way. The chair has been recognized as one of the great design classics of the 20th century.
Both the chair and ottoman are hand-assembled with great attention to details. Shells are 7-ply veneers. Cushions are individually upholstered and replaceable. The back braces and bases of both the chair and ottoman are die-cast aluminium. The chair base has a built-in swivel mechanism. Shock mounts are resilient natural rubber. Stainless steel glides are adjustable.
Charles Eames (1907–1978) and Bernice Alexandra “Ray” Kaiser Eames (1912–1988) were an American married couple of industrial designers who made significant historical contributions to modern architecture and furniture through the work of the Eames Office. The couple were also active in the field of industrial and graphic design, fine art, and even film. Charles might have been the public face of the Eames Office, but they worked closely together as creative partners. Among their most recognized designs is the Eames Lounge Chair.
When they were developing the concept for the chair, Charles explained that he and Ray wanted it to have the “warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”. They wanted their home to provide “a special refuge from the strains of modern living”, so too the Lounge Chair and Ottoman were conceived to provide welcoming comfort to the body.
The Eames Lounge chair and ottoman is today part of the permanent collections at New York’s MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago. The chair and ottoman have been the subject of documentary films and books, and were the sole subject of an exhibition at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. They have also featured prominently in film and television as part of stylish interior settings. The chair and ottoman have become synonymous with modern furniture.
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