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Charles and Ray Eames

American

Charles Eames and Ray Eames were the embodiment of the inventiveness, energy and optimism at the heart of mid-century modern American design, and have been recognized as the most influential designers of the 20th century. The Eameses were lovers of folk craft who had a genius for making highly original chairs, tables, case pieces and other furniture using traditional materials and forms.

As furniture designers, filmmakers, artists, textile and graphic designers and even toy and puzzle makers, the Eameses were a visionary and effective force for the notion that design should be an agent of positive change. They are the happy, ever-curious, ever-adventurous faces of modernism.

Charles Eames (1907–78) studied architecture and industrial design. Ray Eames (née Beatrice Alexandra Kaiser, 1912–88) was an artist, who studied under the Abstract Expressionist painter Hans Hofmann. They met in 1940 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in suburban Detroit (the legendary institution where Charles also met his frequent collaborator Eero Saarinen and the artist and designer Harry Bertoia) and married the next year.

His technical skills and her artistic flair were wonderfully complementary. They moved to Los Angeles in 1941, where Charles worked on set design for MGM. In the evenings at their apartment, they experimented with molded plywood using a handmade heat-and-pressurization device they called the “Kazam!” machine. The next year, they won a contract from the U.S. Navy for lightweight plywood leg splints for wounded servicemen — vintage Eames splints are coveted collectibles today; more so those that Ray used to make sculptures.

The Navy contract allowed Charles to open a professional studio, and the attention-grabbing plywood furniture the firm produced prompted George Nelson, the director of design of the furniture-maker Herman Miller Inc., to enlist Charles and (by association, if not by contract) Ray in 1946. Some of the first Eames items to emerge from Herman Miller are now classics: the Eames chair, the LCW, or Lounge Chair Wood, and the DCM, or Dining Chair Metal, supported by tubular steel.

The Eameses eagerly embraced new technology and materials, and one of their peculiar talents was to imbue their supremely modern design with references to folk traditions. 

Their Wire chair group of the 1950s, for example, was inspired by basket weaving techniques. The populist notion of “good design for all” drove their molded fiberglass chair series that same decade, and also produced the organic-form, ever-delightful La Chaise. In 1956 the Eames lounge chair and ottoman appeared — the supremely comfortable plywood-base-and-leather-upholstery creation that will likely live in homes as long as there are people with good taste and sense.

Charles Eames once said, “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.” For very good collectors and thoughtful interior designers, a piece of design by the Eameses, the closer produced to original conception the better, is almost de rigueur — for its beauty and comfort, and not least as a tribute to the creative legacy and enduring influence of Charles and Ray Eames.

The original Eames furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes chairs, tables, case pieces and other items.

Average Sold Price
$2,835
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Charles and Ray Eames
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Eames Aluminum Group
Eames Aluminum Group
Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman
Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman
Eames Dcm
Eames Dcm
Eames Dax Chair
Eames Dax Chair
Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller Dining Set with 4 DSX and 42" Dining Table
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by the legenday Charles and Ray Eames, this dining set was produced in the 1970s by Herman Miller. This set consists of 4 DSX chairs with bright orange shells and metal base...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair Grey, Herman Miller Chairs
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Miami, FL
Grey Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair, made by Herman Miller 2020. Price is for one chair. 3 Chairs in total available.
Category

2010s American Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Chrome

Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair Grey, Herman Miller Chairs
Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair Grey, Herman Miller Chairs
$220 / item
H 31.5 in W 17.75 in D 21.38 in
Eames Molded Armchair with Maple Rocker Base made 2009 by Vitra
By Charles and Ray Eames, Vitra
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Molded plastic arm chair by Ray Eames and produced by Vitra of Switzerland in 2009 according to label. Made from white molded plastic mounted on chrome legs and a rocker base of mapl...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Steel

Grey Eames Molded Plastic Bar Stool, Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Miami, FL
Grey Eames Molded Plastic Bar Stool by Herman Miller 2020. Price is for one stool. In total 6 stools available.
Category

2010s American Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Chrome

Grey Eames Molded Plastic Bar Stool, Herman Miller
Grey Eames Molded Plastic Bar Stool, Herman Miller
$290 / item
H 45.25 in W 18 in D 21.25 in
4 Eames Aluminum Group Side Chairs Vicenza Leather Cream Herman Miller 2015
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 4 original Eames Aluminum Group Side Chairs in Vicenza Leather Cream. 360-degree swivel. Made by Herman Miler 2015
Category

2010s Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Aluminum

1956 Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Extremely rare 1st edition Eames chair from the very first year of production, 1956. There are several important details to note which make this a remarkable find: - boot glides o...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Leather

1956 Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
1956 Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
$25,000
H 31 in W 32.5 in D 27 in
Calacatta Marble Dining Table with Herman Miller Eames Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous dining table featuring cast aluminum Herman Miller contract base paired with Italian calacatta marble top. Both pieces date to the mid 20th century. The underside of the mar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Marble, Metal

Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller Walnut Eames Lounge Chair with Ottoman
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Walnut Eames Lounge Chair with Ottoman The chair measures: 33 wide x 37 deep x 34 high, with a seat height of 17.5 inches and arm...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Browse all Furniture from Charles and Ray Eames
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Charles and Ray Eames Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$2,500Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2020
2025$1,200ArmchairsSteel, Fiberglass, Plastic, Walnut2016
2025$1,400Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Steel, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2010
2025$2,200Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Foam2005
2025$2,000Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Chromecirca 2015
2025$1,350Sofas, BenchesAluminum, Upholstery1962
2025$2,000Office Chairs and Desk Chairs, ChairsAluminum, Leather2000's
2025$1,999Dining Room ChairsSteel, FiberglassMid 20th Century
2025$1,378Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2010
2025$4,200Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Steel, Leather1981
2025$3,150Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Plastic, Foam, Fabric1975
2025$1,450Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Fabric, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2010
2025$1,599Dining Room ChairsFiberglass1960s
2025$1,895Benches, Coffee and Cocktail TablesFabric, Walnut2000's
2025$1,305Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2010
2025$1,595Office Chairs and Desk ChairsLeather, Aluminum, Steel, Plastic, Foam, Rubber2022
2025$1,600Office Chairs and Desk ChairsAluminum, Leather, Chromecirca 2015
2025$4,725Office Chairs and Desk Chairs, ChairsAluminum, Leather1980s
2025$6,999Lounge ChairsAluminum, Leather, Wood2012
2025$1,348Side ChairsMetal, Fabric, Wood1950s
$2,835
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$243-$26,400
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Charles and Ray Eames

More Charles and Ray Eames Designs
Eames Aluminum Group
Eames Aluminum Group
Average Price
$3,465
Number Available
95
Eames Aluminum Group
By Charles and Ray Eames
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Animal Skin, Leather, Fabric
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman
Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman
Average Price
$11,332
Number Available
40
Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman
By Charles and Ray Eames
Materials
Animal Skin, Leather, Wood, Metal, Rosewood
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Long before it was the pièce de résistance in a collector’s office or an upscale bachelor pad — landing in ample design magazines, on television and in well-appointed offices over the years — the Eames lounge chair was a fresh, subversive new take on a classic club chair and a culmination of experimentation by its inventive creators. Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) met while studying at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the prestigious Michigan institution that drew such illustrious desi...
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Eames Dcm
Eames Dcm
Average Price
$2,271
Number Available
28
Eames Dcm
By Charles and Ray Eames
Materials
Wood, Metal, Steel, Plywood, Hardwood, Chrome
Styles
Mid Century Modern
During World War II, American designers Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) worked with the United States Navy to make a new leg splint. Recognizing that metal splints could further injure a wounded person through the vibrations of their material, the couple created a new model with molded plywood. That wartime experience propelled the Eameses to continue their explorations in plywood. In 1946, they debuted the DCM, its shortened name referencing the “Dining Height (D) Side Chair (C) on ...
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Eames Dax Chair
Eames Dax Chair
Average Price
$1,905
Number Available
23
Eames Dax Chair
By Charles and Ray Eames
Materials
Metal, Plastic, Fiberglass, Steel
Styles
Mid Century Modern
The scooped form of the revolutionary single-shell Eames molded fiberglass armchair — of which the Eames DAX chair is a variation — is ubiquitous in interior design today, found everywhere from restaurants to private homes to offices. In 1948, American designers Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) conceptualized a lounge chair comprising two bonded fiberglass shells as well as a molded fiberglass armchair for the Museum of Modern Art’s International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Des...
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Charles And Ray Eames furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Charles and Ray Eames furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Charles and Ray Eames furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 714 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Charles and Ray Eames were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Herman Miller, Milo Baughman, and Dunbar. Prices for Charles and Ray Eames furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $200 and can go as high as $75,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,496.
Questions About Charles and Ray Eames
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charles and Ray Eames are famous for their chair designs. The couple released their first iconic Eames Lounge and Ottoman in 1956 and went on to create more chairs that changed the idea of comfortable seating. In addition to being great furniture designers, Ray and Charles were also graphic and textile designers, architects and film-makers. Shop a collection of Eames chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    Charles and Ray Eames were related by marriage. Charles studied architecture and industrial design. Ray (née Bernice Alexandra Kaiser) was an artist who studied under painter Hans Hofmann. They met in 1940 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in suburban Detroit and married the next year. Shop a selection of Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Rosewood was the favorite wood of famed American designers Charles and Ray Eames. Rosewood made its way into some of the duo’s most celebrated designs, including the iconic Eames lounge chair. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of genuine Eames furniture from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charles and Ray Eames have been recognized as the 20th century’s most influential designers and are best known for their highly recognizable chairs. The Eames lounge chair and ottoman are an iconic duo in modern-styled furniture, and s​ome of the first Eames items to emerge from Herman Miller are now classics: the LCW, or Lounge Chair Wood, and the DCM, or Dining Chair Metal, supported by tubular steel. Find vintage Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    For Charles and Ray Eames’ chairs designed for Herman Miller, molded plywood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, bent and welded wire mesh, and cast aluminum were used in production. You can shop a collection of Eames furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Yes, Charles Eames chairs are comfortable. The Eameses — Charles and Ray — were fascinated by ergonomics and designed chairs with comfort in mind. The legendary mid-century modernist designer-couple famously called their Eames lounge chair and ottoman “a special refuge from the strains of modern living” and described their design as having the “warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.”

    While the couple’s DCW chairs, introduced in the 1940s, prioritized ease of production and affordability of materials, the Eames lounger, which debuted in 1956, was Charles and Ray’s interpretation of luxury furniture. And to the Eameses, luxury meant, above all, comfort.

    Find vintage Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.

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