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Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

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.

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 (1907–78) studied architecture and industrial design. Ray (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 — they 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 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 collection of original Eames furniture on 1stDibs includes chairs, tables, case pieces and other items.

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Creator: Charles and Ray Eames
Dealer: Weinberg Modern
Set of Four Eames DCMs
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Set of four DCMs in blackened plywood with black chromed metal bases and angled boot glides. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller, circa 1950's.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Molded plywood DCW, likely ash, in original red aniline dye, designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller, 1950's. Nice example of this ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Plywood

Related Items
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Pair of Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller DCMs in White Ash
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Two Eames DCMs (Dining Chair Metal) in white ash with chrome legs. Minor scratches and wear to edges upon close inspection. Overall very good to excellent condition. Signed.
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Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

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1946, Ray and Charles Eames for Vitra, DCM Chair in Red Vernish
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Early Eames Bent Walnut DCW for Herman Miller
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H 28.75 in. W 19.25 in. D 21.5 in.
Early Herman Miller Eames DCM Chair in Walnut
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
All original early Herman Miller Eames DCM chair in walnut. Marked 1951. Gorgeous patina and black iron base. Original mounts and glides.
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Charles Eames for Herman Miller Zebrawood DCM Chairs, Rare
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in St. Louis, MO
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Zebrawood DCM chairs, rare set. Zebrawood was used from 1954-1959. Very nice original condition, minor scuffs to seat. Labels.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

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Production DCM by Charles Eames red 1950s
By Charles Eames
Located in Dallas, TX
Early Production red analine dye DCM designed by Charles Eames manufactured by Herman Miller. Chair is in very good original condition.
Category

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

Materials

Metal

  • Production DCM by Charles Eames red 1950s
  • Production DCM by Charles Eames red 1950s
  • Production DCM by Charles Eames red 1950s
  • Production DCM by Charles Eames red 1950s
H 29 in. W 19.25 in. D 22 in.
Charles and Ray Eames DCW for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Belmont, MA
DCW by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller in original condition. Legs attached with 5/2/4 screw configuration. Original patina.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Plywood

  • Charles and Ray Eames DCW for Herman Miller
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H 28.75 in. W 19.3 in. D 20.87 in.
Early Oak DCW Dining Chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Dorchester, MA
The DCW dining chair is a classic mid-century plywood design by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, both functional and comfortable. This model, made in the 1950s, is constructe...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Oak, Rubber

Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW Chair
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW. Bought from the original owners! Chair presents well with glue showing on back where seat back was reattached at some point. Wood is nice with no ven...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Rubber, Ash

  • Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW Chair
  • Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW Chair
  • Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW Chair
  • Eames for Herman Miller Ash DCW Chair
H 29 in. W 19.25 in. D 20.5 in.
Herman Miller Eames LCW Red Aniline Dye
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Extremely rare and fantastic example of Red Aniline Dye LCW from the Evans era of production. Notice the 525 screw pattern. This is the earliest exampl...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Plywood

  • Herman Miller Eames LCW Red Aniline Dye
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  • Herman Miller Eames LCW Red Aniline Dye
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H 27 in. W 22 in. D 22.5 in.
Previously Available Items
Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Molded plywood DCW, likely ash, in original red aniline dye, designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller, 1950's. Nice example of this ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Plywood

  • Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
  • Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
  • Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
  • Eames DCW in Original Red Aniline Dye
H 28.5 in. W 19.25 in. D 21.5 in.
Eames DAX Chair in Seafoam Green
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
DAX chair of molded fiberglass with zinc-plated steel legs, plastic glides, and rubber shock mounts. An iconic 1950 design by Charles and Ray Eames for Herm...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Zinc

  • Eames DAX Chair in Seafoam Green
  • Eames DAX Chair in Seafoam Green
  • Eames DAX Chair in Seafoam Green
  • Eames DAX Chair in Seafoam Green
H 31.25 in. W 24.75 in. D 24 in.
Vintage Eames Six-Panel Screen in Walnut
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
An early and outstanding example of the iconic Eames screen, FSW-6, in walnut plywood. In unusually Fine original condition, with almost no evidence of the usual edge chips or tearin...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

Materials

Plywood, Canvas

Eames Plywood Splint
By Evans Products Company, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Two molded plywood leg splints designed by Charles and Ray Eames for use by the Navy during WWII. Produced by Evans Products, the sculpturally functional form anticipated the Eames' ...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Furniture

  • Eames Plywood Splint
  • Eames Plywood Splint
  • Eames Plywood Splint
  • Eames Plywood Splint
H 4 in. W 42 in. D 8 in.

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 672 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 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 Milo Baughman, Herman Miller, 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 £120 and can go as high as £40,063, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £1,980.
Questions About Charles and Ray Eames Furniture
  • 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 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, 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
    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.

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