Behind the Design: Eames Lounge Chair

 

Charles and Ray Eames created the Eames Lounge Chair, one of the most celebrated mid-century modern pieces. Since 1956, this mid-century design classic has been a favorite of design-savvy consumers.

Find out how this iconic chair came to be and who designed it.

Behind the design

Charles and Ray Eames created the iconic lounger after they were inspired by an old English club chair. The Eameses took several years to complete the ambitious design in order to make it lighter, more elegant, and more modern than its inspiration.

Arlene Francis' television show Home debuted the chair in 1956. A wide range of praise was given to the chair by the public. An article from 1961 even described it as putting the sitter in a world of voluptuous luxury unknown to mortals since Nero. As a result of its fame, the Eames Lounge Chair has been included in the permanent collection of MoMA in New York City.

Vitra has updated the chair for the modern age in recent years through a series of changes. The original Brazilian rosewood has been replaced by sustainable Palisander rosewood. As an environmentally unfriendly wood, Brazilian rosewood has been heavily farmed over the years.

A taller population has also required Vitra to increase the chair's size. Because humans have grown 10cm in height over the past 60 years, this taller addition allows everyone to enjoy the same level of comfort the Eameses originally intended. You can still find the classic Eames Lounge Chair at Heal's, among other places.

How is it Made?

Eames Lounge Chairs have been faithfully crafted by Vitra for the last 60 years. The original chair is still manufactured using the same methods. The video at the bottom of this page shows how the Eames Lounge Chair was created.

There have been many new finishes introduced by Vitra since the original design was released. As part of these additions, leather upholstery, wood veneers, and bases have been combined. To ensure that each new finish meets the uncompromising standards of the Eames Office, each new finish is created in close collaboration with the Eames Office.

Best Eames Lounge Chairs feature premium upholstery, quality materials, and meticulous craftsmanship. This luxurious chair represented a departure from the Eames' principle of making "the best for the least".

About the designers

The Eames brothers are best known for their role in transforming modern furniture into an icon of the 20th century. 50 years after their designs were introduced, their impact remains as strong as ever.

Eero Saarinen encouraged the couple to pursue design careers when they met at Michigan's Cranbrook Academy of Art. As a team, they experimented with moulded plywood and mastered its use. This proved particularly useful throughout WWII, when the technique was used to make emergency splints for injured soldiers.

“The role of the designer is that of a very good thoughtful host anticipating the needs of their guests.”

Charles Eames

During the post-war period, furniture design needed to be more functional, and the Eameses were more than capable of responding to the brief. Their collaboration continued for 50 years, as they designed furniture and accessories that continue to delight.

Their combined efforts made them formidable forces in the design industry. The Bauhaus' emphasis on functionality was popularized by Charles' strikingly modernist designs. It was Ray's playful contributions that brought life to designs that might otherwise seem austere.

According to Ray Eames, "what works well lasts longer than what looks good". It certainly holds true for their designs, which feature in homes around the world and have been passed down through generations.