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Charles Eames Stools

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
1 Mid-Century Eames H Miller Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair Walnut Moderna Stool
By Herman Miller, 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. 1 (1) Herman Miller Eames Fiberglass Arm Shell on Walnut Swivel Bar Stool...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Fiberglass, Walnut

Charles and Ray Eames Drafting Stool for Herman Miller , castors. c.1974
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Charles and Ray Eames Drafting Stool for Herman Miller , on castors. c.1974 ,, Stunning baby blue padded shell in amazing original conditioin. Per...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Time Life Walnut Stool by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Dronten, NL
A fine lathe-turned wood stool designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, USA. Charles and Ray Eames, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo, revolutionized the design world in the mid-20th century. Pioneers of modern architecture and furniture, the Eameses seamlessly blended form and function, creating iconic pieces that remain influential today. Their innovative use of materials, such as molded plywood and fiberglass, gave rise to timeless designs like the Eames Lounge...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Walnut

1969 Eames Herman Miller/Fehlbaum Extremely Rare White Barstools in Green Fabric
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach, find more details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) Four extremely rare Eames bar stools...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen “Organic Chair” Model No. A3501, 1950, USA
By Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Very rare and collectible Eames & Saarinen "Organic Chair", winner of Organic Design competition at MoMa. First manufacture from the early 1950s, laminated and moulded wooden seat shell, foam upholstery which was covered with textile fabric designed by Marli Ehrman. A special patented joint holds the wood legs firmly to the shell. Originals of the organic from the 1950s are collector's items and exhibited in museums. They are also traded on art auctions, where one was sold in 1999 for $ 120.000 in bed condition. (take a look at the picture) Designed for the “Organic Design” competition by Museum of Modern Art in New York on 1 October 1940. The competition was initiated by Elliot Noyes, the first curator of this newly installed department. The goal was to motivate architects and companies to develop and market modern furniture for a modern lifestyle. Their participation in the MoMa competition was the first collaboration between Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, and they won first prize. Besides the chair, their submission comprised a high-back chair, an armchair, a sofa, and office furniture, which they presented in the form of several drawings. No true-to-scale prototypes were produced for the competition. Production of the “Organic Chair” only started in 1950 and was terminated after a short while. The original design had envisaged aluminium legs. This idea was discarded because the material was scarce during the war, and wood was used instead. New technologies were also involved in the production of the seat shell, which was composed of strips of veneer and was to ensure utmost stability and comfort while using as little material as possible and being extremely lightweight. Later on, Eames based...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Fabric, Plywood

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Eames For Herman Miller Mid Century Yellow Fiberglass Shell Chair
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Pair of Yellow, Swivel Barstools / Drafting Stools by Charles and Ray Eames
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Located in Napa, CA
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21st Century and Contemporary Charles Eames Stools

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George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA - 1960s in all original condition with the rare brown base George Nelson (1908-1986) was an American industrial designer and architect who...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Rare "Kleinhans" Chair, circa 1939 Charles Eames/Eero Saarinen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Iconic "Kleinhans" armchair, designed by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen, early chair, collaboration of two modern masters, designed for the Mary Seaton room at Kleinhans music hall...
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1930s American Art Deco Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Eames Herman Miller Drafting Stool Vinyl and Fiberglass Seat Aluminum Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Eames designed drafting stools, manufactured by Herman Miller circa… The stools feature vibrant blue vinyl seats, light gray fiberglass shells, gr...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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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 confe...
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Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Herman Miller / Fehlbaum, in white 1976
By Herman Miller, Verner Panton
Located in Halle, DE
Panton S-Chair, designed by Verner Panton for Hermann Miller / Fehlbaum. Color: white. The chair is from the 2nd production run from 1970 onwards in thermoplastic luran-s with reinfo...
Category

1970s German Space Age Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Plastic

Charles & Ray Eames LCW Walnut Lounge Chair for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic LCW lounge chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames in Walnut Plywood and manufactured by Herman Miller USA. The veneer and chair is in very good / excellent as new condition wit...
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Eames for Herman Miller Time Life Walnut Stool
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller time life stool, circa mid-1960s. This solid walnut example has incredible graining and has been newly detai...
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Previously Available Items
Eames "Time Life" Turned Walnut Stool, Herman Miller
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We have 2 of the Eames "Time Life" turned walnut stools by Herman Miller. Designed in 1960, these iconic stools are perfect for a cocktail table or a stool! See information below from the Herman Miller Website: "Ray and Charles Eames designed the Eames walnut stools...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Charles & Ray Eames Walnut Stool Model A designed for Rockefeller Center Lobby
By Vitra, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful solid walnut stool (Model A). One of the many design icons by Charles and Ray Eames and originally designed for three lobbies at New York's Rockefeller Center in 1960. The ...
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1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Pair of Stools Model B Charles and Ray Eame, 1970
By Charles Eames
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1970 Pair of stools Model B Charles and Ray Eame Stool Vitra "Stool Eames model B" by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950. It is issued by Vitra for the European market. Originally desig...
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1970s American Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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1970 Charles and Ray Eames Stools Modèle C
By Charles Eames
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Stool Vitra "Stool Eames model C" by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950. It is issued by Vitra for the European market. Originally designed by Charles and Ray...
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1970s American Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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1970 Charles and Ray Eames Stools Modèle C
1970 Charles and Ray Eames Stools Modèle C
H 14.97 in Dm 13 in L 14.97 in
1970 Charles and Ray Eames Stools Modèle B
By Charles Eames
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Stool Vitra "Stool Eames model B" by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950. It is issued by Vitra for the European market. Originally designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the furnishing of ...
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Walnut Time Life Stool, Model C, by Charles Eames, ca. 1955
By Charles Eames
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Early Charles Eames Time Life Stool Model C. Beautiful walnut parquet in excellent original condition, this piece was purchased from the original owner who was a corporate executive ...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Walnut

Pair of Eames Time Life Stools Models A & C Sold Individually
By Ray Eames, Charles Eames
Located in Stamford, CT
Eames time life stools models A & C in walnut, circa 1960s. Price is for one stool.
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

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Walnut

Charles Eames for Herman Miller Bar/Counter Stools in Molded Fiberglass
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Miami, FL
Charles Eames for Herman Miller bar/counter stools in molded fiberglass, circa 1960s Offered for sale is a pair of Charles Eames designs for Herman Miller molded fiberglass swivel...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Stools

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Eames Herman Miller Drafting 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 Stools

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Fiberglass

Eames American Walnut Time Life Stool / End Table for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A beautifully grained sculptural American walnut stool or side table model '' A " # 0411 originally used in the Time Life building in New York city . These were paired with the iconi...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Stools

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Eames American Walnut Time Life Stool / Side Table for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A beautifully grained American walnut Time Life stool "C" model # 0413 , these sculptural stools or end tables originally were used in New York's Time Life building pared with the ic...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Stools

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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 Stools

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Charles Eames stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Charles Eames stools are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Charles Eames stools, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original stools by Charles Eames were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider stools by Adrian Pearsall, Florence Knoll, and Paul Evans. Prices for Charles Eames stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $900 and can go as high as $133,498, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,497.
Questions About Charles Eames Stools
  • 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
    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
    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.

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