The Eames Lounge Chair and matching Ottoman were designed by Charles and Ray Eames, and first released in 1956 after years of development. Designed to reflect the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt", the three piece wooden veneered shell perfectly supports the body, the thick cushioned opulent leather upholstery providing an incomparable level of comfort.
Every design magpie wants to own one, but the Eames Lounge Chair has a universal appeal. It's difficult not to be familiar with this chair. The different veneer and leather variations have appeared on screen hundreds of times from its first appearance on Arlene Francis's Home show in 1956, gracing the apartment of the title character in Frasier and becoming an icon of therapists' offices in films. This chair has certainly proved itself a timeless design classic.
Unfortunately, a genuine new Eames Lounge Chair costs in excess of $3,500, and vintage editions have reached as high as $7,000 in specialist auctions. A quick Google for the Eames Lounge Chair brings up hundreds of thousands of websites: a high percentage of which offer imitation chairs. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a replica Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. For many, this is a realistic way to afford this beautiful yet practical piece of furniture.
But even when ordering a replica Eames Lounge Chair, you want your furniture to do justice to the iconic designers. You want visitors to enter your home, admire your new chair and leave, unaware that the only difference between your chair and one ten times its price is the missing label, which would be hidden underneath the seat.
Materials
It's easy to find a replica. An affordable chair and ottoman which incorporate the quality and craftsmanship of the original, however, are often more difficult to find than an original. But with the attractive price of high quality replicas, it is certainly worth looking.
The upholstery should be 100% thick high quality leather. Leatherette, PU, leather match or any other leather imitation is prone to discolouration and wear and tear, and won't have the same feel or look of real leather. Also pay attention what features are actually upholstered in real leather. You may find the cushions to be leather, but the arms, buttons or piping not to be. Also steer clear of Chinese leather, which is thinner than Italian leather. Wooden veneers should be individual and differ from chair to chair. Cheaply manufactured chairs will share the same fake wood grain.
Legs and mounts
A genuine Eames Lounge Chair has 5 legs, and the Ottoman 4, and so should a high quality tribute. Many low quality imitations feature 5 or 4 legs on both pieces. Legs should rise at a slight angle, not lie flat and parallel to the floor, nor rise too steeply.
Manufacture
A genuine Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman will feature no visible welds or bolts: a sign of the craftsmanship gone into its creation. Hidden pins are used in quality reproductions to secure the base sturdily yet discretely.
Some sellers don't use photographs of the products they are selling and take them from other websites. Only buy your Eames inspired Lounge Chair and Ottoman from a retailer which is happy to provide high resolution close-up photographs of any detail on request, and answer any questions or queries you may have. Check that your furniture is being shipped in sturdy crates with supported corners, and ensure that it has been quality checked by the retailer. This way you can enjoy a quality Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman which are indistinguishable from the original, yet much more affordable.
Every design magpie wants to own one, but the Eames Lounge Chair has a universal appeal. It's difficult not to be familiar with this chair. The different veneer and leather variations have appeared on screen hundreds of times from its first appearance on Arlene Francis's Home show in 1956, gracing the apartment of the title character in Frasier and becoming an icon of therapists' offices in films. This chair has certainly proved itself a timeless design classic.
Unfortunately, a genuine new Eames Lounge Chair costs in excess of $3,500, and vintage editions have reached as high as $7,000 in specialist auctions. A quick Google for the Eames Lounge Chair brings up hundreds of thousands of websites: a high percentage of which offer imitation chairs. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a replica Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. For many, this is a realistic way to afford this beautiful yet practical piece of furniture.
But even when ordering a replica Eames Lounge Chair, you want your furniture to do justice to the iconic designers. You want visitors to enter your home, admire your new chair and leave, unaware that the only difference between your chair and one ten times its price is the missing label, which would be hidden underneath the seat.
Materials
It's easy to find a replica. An affordable chair and ottoman which incorporate the quality and craftsmanship of the original, however, are often more difficult to find than an original. But with the attractive price of high quality replicas, it is certainly worth looking.
The upholstery should be 100% thick high quality leather. Leatherette, PU, leather match or any other leather imitation is prone to discolouration and wear and tear, and won't have the same feel or look of real leather. Also pay attention what features are actually upholstered in real leather. You may find the cushions to be leather, but the arms, buttons or piping not to be. Also steer clear of Chinese leather, which is thinner than Italian leather. Wooden veneers should be individual and differ from chair to chair. Cheaply manufactured chairs will share the same fake wood grain.
Legs and mounts
A genuine Eames Lounge Chair has 5 legs, and the Ottoman 4, and so should a high quality tribute. Many low quality imitations feature 5 or 4 legs on both pieces. Legs should rise at a slight angle, not lie flat and parallel to the floor, nor rise too steeply.
Manufacture
A genuine Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman will feature no visible welds or bolts: a sign of the craftsmanship gone into its creation. Hidden pins are used in quality reproductions to secure the base sturdily yet discretely.
Some sellers don't use photographs of the products they are selling and take them from other websites. Only buy your Eames inspired Lounge Chair and Ottoman from a retailer which is happy to provide high resolution close-up photographs of any detail on request, and answer any questions or queries you may have. Check that your furniture is being shipped in sturdy crates with supported corners, and ensure that it has been quality checked by the retailer. This way you can enjoy a quality Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman which are indistinguishable from the original, yet much more affordable.
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