Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
There’s perhaps no more recognizable moniker of mid-century modern furniture than the Eames chair, used, of course, to describe that ubiquitous leather-and-wood lounge that has been making its way into interiors since 1956. But the Eames lounger is just one of many iconic seats credited to the “first couple” of modern American design. Indeed, the name Eames is virtually synonymous with American mid-century seating — and for good reason.
Together, husband-and-wife duo Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) designed some of the most recognizable and enduring chairs not only of the 20th century but in all of American history.
The couple met in 1940 at the illustrious Cranbrook Academy of Art — which would become the go-to art school for the icons of mid-century modernism — where they befriended design luminaries Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia. Charles and Ray married afterward, then moved to Los Angeles in 1941. There, they embarked on a streak of design experimentation, resulting in a staggering output of furniture across a multitude of often quite experimental materials.
Central to one of their most groundbreaking material developments was the “Kazam!” machine, a handmade, bicycle-pump-operated apparatus for molding layers of plywood together. This method would prove the basis for some of the couple’s most recognizable seats, including their DCW and DCM dining chairs, both produced for Herman Miller, whose director of design, George Nelson, tapped Charles in 1946. This partnership would go on to be one of the most prolific in modern design history, with Eames furniture still topping best-seller lists for the manufacturer today. Although Ray was notably absent from that Herman Miller contract — as well as from many historic recognitions of her husband’s work — she and Charles were true partners, working collaboratively on nearly all design projects.
Never content with one medium, Charles and Ray would go on to experiment with fiberglass, a low-cost, easily manipulatable material that aligned with their belief in mass, accessible design. The couple dipped a toe in making virtually every type of furniture, including coffee tables, dining tables, desks and even their clever Eames storage units, given the moniker “working art” upon their 1949 debut at the Detroit Institute of Arts. A fitting label, indeed, for all of the couple’s furnishings, even if they’re best remembered for their chair designs.
The Eames molded fiberglass side chairs and armchairs were released through Herman Miller in 1950. Their efforts also extended to the workplace (where Herman Miller got its start): Their 1958 Executive chair remains a staple in offices around the globe.
Browse a vast selection of vintage Eames lounge chairs and other innovative and long-admired seating designed by the Eameses today on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Rosewood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Plywood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chairs
Steel
Charles And Ray Eames lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Charles and Ray Eames
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024Charles 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, 2022Charles 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, 2022Charles 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 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. Find vintage Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022For 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, 2022Rosewood 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, 2024Yes, 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.