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.
Set of three 1970s Charles and Ray Eames LTR side tables
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1975 Set of Charles and Ray Eames LTR side tables by Herman Miller, USA In good vintage condition with each table showing light wear commensurate with thei...
Steel, Zinc
$300
H 9.88 in W 15.5 in D 13.25 in
Small Eames for Herman Miller Black Laminate, Plywood, and Chrome LTR SideTable
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller LTR (low table rod) side table originally designed in 1950 in layered plywood with a black laminate top supported by a resistance-welded chrom...
Steel, Chrome
Charles Ray Eames Marble Coffee Side Table Aluminium Group Couch Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Telgte, DE
Charles Ray Eames marble coffee side table Aluminium Group couch table An Eames Aluminum Group couch table with original marble top and an old four-foot ...
Marble, Aluminum, Steel
$919Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.75 in W 22.88 in D 29.75 in
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Rectangular White and Black Side Table
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This refined Eames table embodies the crisp modernist logic for which Charles and Ray Eames are celebrated. Every detail — from the stark black-and-white contrast to the molded plywood base beneath the laminate top — is the product of thoughtful design, executed with clarity and intention. Constructed in Hermann Miller’s tradition of precision craftsmanship, the table features a durable laminate surface (white top balanced by black accents) set upon a sculptural base. The base, molded with subtle curvature, gives the piece an elegant tension: the top seems to float just above the structure, while the form remains grounded and stable. The black-and-white juxtaposition yields a quietly dramatic presence, sophisticated without ever becoming ostentatious. In terms of proportion and scale, the table is built to integrate seamlessly in both residential and commercial settings. While modest in size, it carries architectural ambition: the interplay between horizontality (tabletop) and vertical support (base) is calibrated to maintain visual lightness and structural confidence. Dimensions: Width (side to side): 22.88 in (58.1 cm) Depth (front to back): 29.75 in (75.6 cm) Height: 17.75 in (45.1 cm) Collectors and design connoisseurs will appreciate this table not merely as a utility, but as an exemplar of mid-century modern refinement. It bridges functional minimalism with sculptural wit, making it a focal point in any interior. In a collector’s environment, it stands proudly among other modern icons — an understated yet resolute statement of design pedigree. This listing is for the side table alone. The chair and accessories pictured are NOT INCLUDED. Condition: Original vintage condition with exceptionally clean table top. We also have a 32 inch square Eames table. A white marble Eames coffee table is also available. Complete your office with Charles Pollock Executive chairs (sold separately) in blue velvet...
Marble, Metal, Aluminum
$1,641
H 16.54 in W 29.92 in D 29.92 in
Mid-Century Side Table by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller, 1960s
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Hamburg, DE
Flat couch or side table by Herman Miller according to a design by Ray & Charles Eames. A design classic from Herman Miller/Vitra. The peculiarity of this version is the ratio of he...
Metal
Charles Dudouyt End Table
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charles Dudouyt (1885-1946) French end table, circa 1930. Influenced heavily by African art, these richly carved tables mark an aesthetic exodus form Art Deco to the bold abstract f...
Wood
Charles Dudouyt End Table
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Single end table by Charles Dudouyt with ornate carved pedestal base Gorgeous wood patina.
Oak
Charles Dudouyt Tripod Table
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Great sculptural side table by Charles Dudouyt with three wooden balled feet Signature carved corkscrew base and hand etching on the edges Wonderful dark / rich wood patina throu...
Oak
Herman Miller Eames 42" Round Table
By Herman Miller
Located in Pasadena, TX
Herman Miller Eames Round Table Herman Miller Round top with walnut finish , the base is anodized in black with aluminum spider attachment. Great in and office or a home setting .
Laminate
Charles II Oak Side Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine Charles II period English oak side table, the two plank top with breadboard ends over dentil molded frieze over single drawer with geometric ...
Oak
