The legacy of Charles Eames looms large in design. In partnership with his wife, Ray, Charles was at the forefront of pioneering innovation in the use of molded plywood for furniture making. The Eameses’ cheerful and inviting work has endured among the most important advancements in the history of 20th-century design.
Together, visionary mid-century modern duo Charles and Ray Eames introduced a wide range of renowned furniture to the postwar market, including iconic designs such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, the wildly colorful birch plywood-and-plastic-laminate Eames storage unit, the Eames compact sofa and more. The designers were trailblazers in molded plywood furniture and brought lively organic form to metal and plastic.
Charles Eames studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. He traveled to Mexico and Europe, and experienced firsthand the work of designer-architects Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In 1930, upon returning to Missouri, Eames opened an architecture practice with Charles M. Gray but later moved to Michigan in 1938. He received a fellowship at Cranbrook Academy of Art, which would become a breeding ground for the stars of mid-century design. Eames continued his architecture studies at Cranbrook and also taught in the design department.
In 1940, Eames met his future wife, artist and designer Beatrice Alexandra "Ray" Kaiser, who was studying at Cranbrook under Abstract Expressionist painter Hans Hofmann. Charles teamed up with another Cranbrook instructor, Finnish-American designer Eero Saarinen, to explore the possibilities of plywood for use in furniture design.
With support from Ray, Charles and Eero created chairs and case pieces and submitted them to the “Organic Design in Home Furnishings” competition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City — among them was the groundbreaking organic Side chair made of molded plywood with maple legs. It was upholstered by Heywood-Wakefield. This exhibition is considered critical by many to the popularization of what is known as mid-century modernism. Eames and Saarinen won first place for their submissions to the competition.
Charles and Ray were married in 1941 and soon after moved to Los Angeles, California, and lived in an apartment building designed by architect Richard Neutra. Charles worked on set design at MGM, and at night, in a humble workshop they established in the guest bedroom, he and Ray experimented with molded plywood on a homemade device they called the “Kazaam!” machine. In 1942, the couple won a U.S. Navy contract to create molded plywood leg splints that would be used to support wartime medical efforts. Soon, the Evans Product Company was making the splints and the Eameses opened the famed Eames Office and studio.
The Eameses’ innovative use of wire framing, molded plywood and applied fabrics caught the attention of many notable figures in interior design and architecture, including George Nelson, director of design at Herman Miller, a now-legendary modern furniture manufacturer. The company enlisted the Eameses’ talents and was eventually home to the couple’s classic pieces such as the Eames DCW chair and the DCM chair.
Find an extensive array of vintage Charles Eames seating, tables and case pieces on 1stDibs.
$2,352Sale Price|20% Off
La Fonda coffee table by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
La Fonda coffee or large end table designed by Charles and Ray Eames and manufactured by Herman Miller. This series was designed for the La Fonda restaurant, designed by Alexander Gi...
Slate, Chrome
Charles Eames Wire Chairs with Bikini Cover on Eiffel Base's
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic pair Eames wire chairs on a black Eiffel base with the bikini covers for Herman Miller, Naugahyde bikini tops missing elastic connector...
Steel
Charles Eames "PAW Chair" Swivel Fiber Glass Shell Dowel Leg aCa
By Charles Eames
Located in Hamburg, DE
Second series after 1950 Zenith Herman Miller / Charles Eames PAW Swivel chair in color salmon (faded) / dowel legs in birch / all original parts / the awesome dowel base reads Seng Chicago...
Steel
Swivel Chair Mod. "ea107" Design Charles and Ray Eames for Icf De Padova, 1970s
By ICF Group, Charles Eames
Located in Argelato, BO
Charles & Ray Eames, EA 107 Aluminum Chairs for ICF (Signed) Designed by the legendary designers Charles & Ray Eames, offers a perfect combination of iconic design and functionality...
Aluminum
Charles and Ray Eames Red Beech DCM Chairs, Herman Miller, Dining, Side Chair
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
PRICED PER CHAIR.... Charles and Ray Eames red (aniline dye) beech DCM chairs manufactured by Herman Miller, dining, side chair. Labeled. Designed in 1946. Produced in 2019. Authentic Eames chair...
Metal
$1,400 / set
Pair Eames DCM in Worn Original Ebonized Finish
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Eames
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of early production Dining Chair Metal DCM designed by the Charles and Ray Eames team . Black wrought iron frames support black aniline dyed wood seats and backs. Finish shows w...
Steel
Pair of Herman Miller Eames DCM Molded Plywood / chrome Side Chair 1980s
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
An iconic pair of Herman Miller Eames DCMs (DINING CHAIR METAL) molded plywood side chairs c. 1980's. Retain original (early black stripe) Herman Miller labels, These chair’s beau...
Chrome
Swivel Chair Mod. "ea107" Design Charles and Ray Eames for Icf De Padova, 1970s
By ICF Group, Charles Eames
Located in Argelato, BO
Charles & Ray Eames, EA 107 Aluminum Chair for ICF (Signed) Designed by the legendary designers Charles & Ray Eames, offers a perfect combination of iconic design and functionality....
Aluminum
Early 2nd Generation X Base Arm Shell Lounge Chair by Charles Eames
By Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early 2nd generation X base elephant gray arm shell lounge chair by Charles Eames for Herman Miller. Amazing condition, featuring early solid iron X base, .Amazing color. Elephant gr...
Iron
Early Vintage Charles Eames Herman Miller Arm Shell Chair / SAX or DAX / X Base
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Vintage Charles Eames Herman Miller Arm Shell Chair. SAX or DAX, uncertain which name is correct for this version. Zinc X Base Nice early chair that has a nice attractive nat...
Fiberglass
Swivel Chair Mod. "ea107" Design Charles and Ray Eames for Icf De Padova, 1970s
By ICF Group, Charles Eames
Located in Argelato, BO
Charles & Ray Eames, EA 107 Aluminum Brown Chair for ICF (Signed) Designed by the legendary designers Charles & Ray Eames, offers a perfect combination of iconic design and function...
Aluminum
Charles Eames Herman Miller Mid Century Modern Multi Color Compact Sofa Loveseat
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Charles Eames Herman Miller Mid Century Modern Multi Color Compact Sofa Loveseat Bench
Steel, Chrome
Early Pair of Charles Eames Herman Miller Shell Chairs in Beautiful Light Coral
By Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a fine early matched pair of possibly Evans or early production years with Herman Miller. They have solid wrought iron X-bases. Large Shock Mounts. Wonderfully faded red fibe...
Fiberglass
Original Vitra EA 217 Bürostuhl Charles Eames leder weiß Chefsessel
By Charles Eames, Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen wunderschönen Vitra EA217 Soft Pad Bürostuhl mit weißem Lederbezug zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Charles & Ray Eames und gilt bis heute als wahrer Desig...
Steel, Chrome
American grey armchairs La Fonda by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, 1960s
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in MIlano, IT
American grey fiberglass armchairs La Fonda by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, 1960s Set of six armchairs model La Fonda with curved monocoque seat and backrest in gray fiberglass. ...
Aluminum
RAR Rocking Chair Eames yellow original vintage - Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Authentic Armchair RAR (Rocking Arm Chair) shell Eames original and vintage edition Herman Miller Designed by Charles EAMES - 1950 Original fiberglass hull in pale young color. Trac...
Steel
Pair of Fine Early DKX Charles Eames Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
A good early pair. More detail pics available. Seats need to be attached better. Possibly worked on by an upholsterer. All original pieces. Missing the foot glides. They can be...
Metal
1939 Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen Kleinhans Armless Chair in Beech, Fabric
By Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Kleinhans Armless Chair, designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen in 1939. The two designers were working together at the Cranbrook Academy of Art at the time, and this ...
Beech, Plywood, Fabric, Foam
Early LCM Red Aniline Dyed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early LCM red aniline dyed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller... Retains original patina.. minor repair to rear of seat (see photo), Stamped , Incised. L C M. also dated 1953.. wond...
Metal
Pair of Charles and Ray Eames "Translucent" Arm Shell Chairs
By Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Great pair of lemon yellow arm shell chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames.. manufactured by Herman Miller,, early elusive see-thrugh "Translucent" fiberglass parchment shells...
Steel
Rare Pair of "Kleinhans" Chairs, circa 1939 Charles Eames/Eero Saarinen
By Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Iconic "Kleinhans" armchairs, designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen, early chair, collaboration of two modern masters, designed for the Mary Seaton room at Kleinhans music hall...
Birch, Plywood
1 of 3 Vintage Vitra Icf Eames EA105 Hopsak Swivel Office Armchairs
By Vitra, Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Eames
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale 1 of 4 original fully stamped ICF for Charles Eames, EA105 Hopsak chrome swivel armchairs RRP £2,096 each. Super iconic, award winning, what more can you say, these are pretty much the most comfortable office chairs ever made, these are fully stamped with the model number to the base and the Eames label...
Chrome
Second Generation "Ochre" X-Base Fiberglass Arm Shell Chairs, Charles Eames
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Second Generation "Ochre" X-base fiberglass arm shell chairs. Charles Eames manufactured by Herman Miller. Nice early versions. Seldom seen light ochre color, retaining original gel ...
Steel
2010s Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen Organic Chairs by Vitra in Dark Gray Fabric
By Vitra, Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a set of five Organic chairs designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen as part of their submission for the Organic Designs in Home Furnishings exhibition at the ...
Metal
Set of 3 Vitra Charles Eames Alu Chairs, Herman Miller, swivel, White Leather
By Charles Eames, Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
3 Vitra Charles Eames Alu Chairs by Herman Miller, Swivel, White Leather This set of three Vitra Charles Eames Alu Chairs (Herman Miller) embodies the...
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Ebonized Wood and Chrome DCM Eames Chair
By Charles Eames
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern ebonized wood and chrome chair by DCM Eames. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 21" depth x 19" W x 29.5" H, seat height 17.5".
Chrome
1 of 10 Vitra Eames Herman Miller Black Leather Swivel Office Chairs
By Charles Eames, Vitra, Herman Miller
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale 1 of 10 original vintage Charles & Rays Eames, Vitra, Herman Miller high back black leather office swivel ar...
Chrome
2021 Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen Organic Chair by Vitra in Dark Green Fabric
By Vitra, Charles Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Organic chair designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen as part of their submission for the Organic Designs in Home Furnishings exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in...
Fabric, Wood
Charles Eames Alexander Girard Herman Miller Shell Chairs in Checkerboard
By Alexander Girard, Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
A good pair of orange and yellow Charles Eames and Alexander Girard chairs for Herman Miller. Custom order label on underside. Dated May 6, 1974. More pics to come. Upholstery is in...
Fiberglass
Charles Eames for Knoll, Round Segmented Dining Table, circa 1964
By Charles Eames, Knoll
Located in Paris, FR
Segmented dining table with five legs, Charles Eames for Knoll, circa 1960. Base in polished aluminum cast with adjustable rubber feet, original tray ...
Carrara Marble, Aluminum, Steel
Mid-Century Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen for Vitra Organic Dining Chairs Pair
By Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, Vitra
Located in Secaucus, NJ
The iconic classic organic chair was designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen in 1940 as a joint entry to the "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" A competition organized by the ...
Fabric, Ash, Oak