68 AUGUST 2019 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM
SPOTLIGHT
slhl
By Moe Godat
Photography provided by
Herman Miller Furniture.Eames Chair
EVOLUTION
Though still recognizable
at first glance, the iconic
Eames chair is changing to
fit every home and style.When the Eames couple first began designing chairs for Herman
Miller Furniture in the late 1940s, they focused their designs on comfort,
fashion and affordability. However, the married couple’s most famous
innovation centered around luxury for then-modern homes, leading to
its inevitable placement in museums all over the world. As a piece
created after WWII, the Eames chair reflects a time of “waste not, want
not” while still adding flair and style to any room.
Charles Eames and his wife, Ray, wanted to create a chair that had
“the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt. ”To
achieve this, the pair used fine leather for the seat cushions, backrest
and ottoman. These cushions, instead of being stapled or nailed down,
are attached to the curved wood by a zipper that adheres to a stiff plastic
backing.
The Eames chair has three curved plywood shells that make up the
headrest, backrest and seat base. When production first began in 1956,
a veneer of Brazilian rosewood covered the five pressed layers of
plywood to give the chair the air of luxury; now, due to accessibility, the
veneer is primarily finished with cherry, walnut or Palisander rosewood.
“This handsome chair is immediately recognizable by anyone with
an eye for contemporary furniture,” says Dana Romeis of Castle Design.
The Eames chair has stood the test of time with its timeless look and
maximum comfort, acting as a centerpiece for homes and offices for
the past 60 years. You may even recognize the Eames chair from its
countless appearances in movies and television shows. But recently,
the Eames chair has been going through some changes to make it fit
more comfortably in a modern home.
“Historically, its appeal is in its classic masculine form, finishes and
feet-up comfort,” Romeis comments. “The recent addition of a pale ash
frame with ivory leather rather than walnut and black leather makes it
instantly more feminine. This softer feel can slide right into a lighter, airy
room.” With so many options available today, design connoisseurs and
relaxation-lovers alike can find the perfect Eames chair for their space.
See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.