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Charles Eames Furniture

American, 1907-1978

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.

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Creator: Charles Eames
Dealer: Metro Retro Furniture MCM Furniture
1 Herman Miller Eames Conference or Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
1 Herman Miller Eames 48" conference or dining table. Charles Eames was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1907. Ray Kaiser Eames was born in Sacramento...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

1 Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Table
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
1 Herman Miller Eames 42" aluminum group table. Charles Eames was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1907. Ray Kaiser Eames was born in Sacramento, Califo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

1 Charles Eames Herman Miller Aluminum Group Side Task Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
1 charles Eames Herman Miller Aluminum group chair 1970s Charles and Ray Eames aluminum group side chair, EA330 office conference chair in black vinyl upholstery. The chair features...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

One Charles Eames Herman Miller Aluminum Group Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
One Charles Eames Herman Miller aluminum group chair 1970s Charles and Ray Eames aluminum group side chair, EA330 office co...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Charles Eames for Herman Miller Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
36" Eames for Herman Miller dining table Laminated top with contract aluminum 4 star base. Great for dining or conference room settings. Signed Eames. 29" height.        
Category

Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

1 Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
1 Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Management chair 2000s Equally classic and contemporary, the Eames Aluminum Group Manage...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

1 Herman Miller Parchment Shell Fiberglass RAR Rocker by Eames
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
1 Herman Miller parchment shell fiberglass RAR rocker by Eames Manufactured in the 1960s-1970s this rocker is one of the most iconic designs fr...
Category

1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Fiberglass

1 Mid-Century Eames Herman Miller Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair Walnut Stool
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to California where they continued their furniture design work with molding plywood. During the war they were commissioned by the Navy to pr...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Fiberglass, Walnut

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Vintage Fabric Aluminum EA 108 Desk Chair by Charles&Ray Eames for Herman Miller
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Eames for Herman Miller Table Post Modern Look
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Contemporary Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Dining Bistro Table, USA, circa 2000s
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Contemporary Eames office dining, bistro, side, or end table. Rendered in durable white laminate wood top with a two tone aluminum and white powder coated base. This table has an ext...
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1992 Eames for Herman Miller Aluminum Group Soft Pad Office Chair
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Charles Eames Contract Base Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in San Mateo, CA
Contract base dining table by Charles and Ray Eames. This table has the earlier aluminum group base. The top is a faux wood grain laminate. The table has the round black medal label....
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Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid-Century Upholstered Shell Office Chair
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Charles Eames for Herman Miller mid-century upholstered shell office chair. This chair measures: 25 wide x 22 deep x 32 high, ...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

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Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Upholstered Shell Office Chair
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George Nelson for Herman Miller Circular White Laminate Lazy Susan Dining Table
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Previously Available Items
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1 Vintage Herman Miller Eames Executive Soft Pad Task Chair
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Eames Herman Miller Walnut Conference Table
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'1' Midcentury Herman Miller Eames EC-178 Shell Management Chair
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray Eames Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to California where they continued their furniture design work with molding plywood. During the war they were commissioned by the Navy to produce molded plywood splints, stretchers and experimental glider shells. In 1946, Evans Products began producing the Eameses' molded plywood furniture. The influential architectural critic Esther McCoy called their molded plywood chair “the chair of the century”. Soon production was taken over by Herman Miller, Inc., who continues to produce the furniture in the United States to this day. Another company, Vitra International, manufactures the furniture in Europe. The Eameses continued to create new furniture designs into the 1970s. Examples include the molded plastic or fiberglass chairs from the early 1950s and the famous Lounge Chair and Ottoman from 1956. Sturdy, comfortable and elegant office furniture was created in the 1960s, as well as seating designed for Dulles and O’Hare Airports. This Tandem Sling Seating is still in use in airports around the world today (1) Charles & Ray Eames EC...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

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Aluminum

1 Midcentury Eames Herman Miller Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair Stool
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to California where they continued their furniture design work with molding plywood. During the war, they were commissioned by the Navy to p...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Fiberglass, Walnut

Pair of Vintage Fully Restored Eames Leather Aluminium Chair
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray Eames gave this chair an innovative suspension that creates a firm, flexible "sitting pocket" that conforms subtly to the body's shape. They created that suspension b...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

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Chrome

Pair of Vintage Midcentury Restored Eames Leather Aluminum Chairs
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray Eames gave this chair an innovative suspension that creates a firm, flexible "sitting pocket" that conforms subtly to the body`s shape. They created that suspension b...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

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Vintage Herman Miller Eames Rosewood Conference Table
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to California where they continued their furniture design work with molding plywood. During the war they were commissioned by the Navy to pr...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

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Rosewood

7FT Vintage Midcentury Eames Herman Miller Dining Conference Table
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
7 ft Italian Verde green marble-top with a Herman Miller Eames Base  Classic and elegant segmented H base with 1.5" Italian Verde green marble-top. Mea...
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Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Furniture

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Marble

12ft Vintage Conference Table Designed by Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage 12 foot conference table designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This table features a laminate top with an aluminum base.
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1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Herman Miller Eames Racetrack Dining Table Red Finish
By Charles Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to California where they continued their furniture design work with molding plywood. During the war they were commissioned by the Navy to produce molded plywood splints, stretchers and experimental glider shells. In 1946, Evans Products began producing the Eameses` molded plywood furniture. Their molded plywood chair was called "the chair of the century" by the influential architectural critic Esther McCoy. Soon production was taken over by Herman Miller, Inc ., who continues to produce the furniture in the United States to this day. Another company, Vitra International , manufactures the furniture in Europe. The Eameses continued to create new furniture designs into the 1970s. Measure: 72" Eames racetrack...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Furniture

Materials

Oak

Charles Eames furniture for sale on 1stDibs

Charles Eames' furniture is available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive objects are frequently made of metal and designed with extraordinary care. There are many options in our Charles Eames collection of furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. In stock are 163 vintage editions of these items, while there is also 1 modern edition to choose from. Many of Charles Eames' original furniture was created in the Mid-Century Modern style in North America during the 20th century. Many customers also consider furniture by Craft Associates, Arthur Umanoff and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, if you’re looking for additional options. The prices for Charles Eames furniture can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. 1stDibs's price starts at $500 and tops out at $138,761, while pieces like these can sell for $2,500 on average.
Questions About Charles Eames Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charles and Ray Eames were a married couple, best remembered for their innovative furniture designs in the middle of the 20th century — specifically the famous Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. They are also known for their early experimentations with plywood. Shop a collection of Eames furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 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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