Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman, Eames Lounge Chair - Eames.com (2024)

They are models 670 (lounge chair) and 671 (ottoman), a luxury chair and matching stool, commissioned by Herman Miller and released in 1956. The Eames lounge chair and ottoman were actually available to buy separately but always recommended together to ensure they would be entirely matching. The Eames lounge chair and ottoman has gone on to become one of the most well known and desirable furniture designs ever and has been in continuous production since it was launched.

Many a legend has been written about the origins of the design of the Eames Lounge Chair. Some stories indicate Charles wanted the chair to 'fit like a baseball glove' whilst others say he wanted the look and feel of a 'gentleman's club chair'. Whichever story is to be believed, one thing is certainly true, the combination of beautifully crafted rosewood, luxurious Scottish leather and down filling fully fits the luxurious tag and justifies the considerable cost of the piece through the decades.

The Eames Lounge Chair is one of the most complex pieces in terms of its construction. It is comprised of 20 major separate components and was one of the Eames Office’s first ‘expensive’ articles, moving away from the mass produced low cost furniture such as the fiberglass series. The final version had roots in previous plywood experimentation at the Eames Office by Charles, Don Albinson and Harry Bertoia during the 1940's.

The Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman has stood the test of time and indeed the changes of tastes in fashion and furniture through the decades. Over the years the Herman Miller lounge chair has been produced in many beautiful real wood veneers, high quality leathers and fabrics.

2010 saw the launch of a 'tall version' being slightly larger and higher, to accommodate the ever changing sizes of the population. This new version of the Eames Lounge Chair has proven to be a popular successor and is available side by side with the classic version.

• The first thing to check for are the labels and stamps of an Eames Lounge Chair & matching Ottoman. The lounge chair has always had at least one label but often more than one. Early versions would likely have contained both a manufacturer Herman Miller Label as well as a paper label due to the upholstery. Later model Lounge chairs may have additional quality control labels and manufacture date bar code labels.
• We have seen and been made aware of occasional secondary market Lounge chairs, generally newer ones made over the last 5 years, whereby an original Herman Miller label has been affixed to a copy piece. It wouldn't be possible to emulate the original Brazilian Rosewood of the early vintage pieces but the later copies, especially emanating from China, do a good job in replicating the Walnut and Palisander veneer of later models. It is likely that the original labels have been taken from a lesser piece, such as a plywood chair for example, and fixed to the copy to make it appear as an original Herman Miller build.
• Copy loungers actually being passed off as an original Herman Miller are luckily quite rare because the quality differences are quite easy to spot and the originator of the fraud is likely targeting a novice or first time buyer. If possible request Certificate of Authenticity although these do tend to be missing in 80% of them due to being put away in drawers when they buy a chair new. Failing that, buy your eames chair from a reputable vintage dealer or shop or enlist the help of a knowledgeable person to help.
• Check our generations section for determinable differences in the chairs through the years. One of the main identifiers is the number of ply layers. The early version had 5 equal layers of ply but this changed to 7 in the 1970's. A lot of the reproduction models tend to use the 5 ply model, most likely as it is cheaper to produce, even with later style veneers such as Walnut or Palisander. There are also a great many copies that have the back rest angles of the chair all completely wrong and this can help in spotting them.
• Original Eames Lounge Chairs have a specific type of UNC (Universal thread) bolts on the underside of the arms and also in the ply panels under the cushions. Almost all of repro copies use either hex (or alan) key fixings or with metric thread.
• Finally, always check the cushions, open the zip and ensure the filling is what you would expect for the year and generation of the chair being offered. Check the cushion backings too as a complete set through a chair and ottoman if there is one would have the same markings and initialing on.
• Always ask lots of questions about the origin of a chair you are looking to buy and always look to check whether there has been repairs or replacement parts.

• Valuing an Eames Lounge Chair is never a simple task but the first and foremost thing on a collector's mind is originality.
• Originality in all parts adds greater value. Check all panels of the chair and the ottoman. If they are matching they will all have the same numbers, initials, labels or signature of the factory worker. Check that the shock mounts are original, or at the very least replaced professionally. Check that the feet are all the same on the chair and ottoman and for originality these would be quite worn if on a vintage piece. Bases and back brackets may be more difficult to tell but are not commonly replaced. Finally the cushions, ensure the filling type fits for the age or that the leather ageing appears in keeping with the chair. Also check the cushion backs for factory signatures that would match throughout the set of chair and ottoman.
• Age is certainly a factor to adding value when it comes to the very higher end models that can be found and especially in the very first generations. The truth is however that the difference in price between a vintage version and even one only a matter of a year or two old is not as great as one would think. There is certainly some difference but due to the relative price of the lounge chair actually being the same through the decades they do not vary a great deal.
• Always be on the look out for both repairs and replacement. The design flaw of the Lounge chair is the failing of the mounts and this has happened through the years, old and new. Often if they break off they can come off 'clean' allowing a simple replacement. Sometimes however they break the plywood of the first back panel where the mounts are glued. Always look therefore for any indication of a line on the outer panel near the mounts that would indicate the ply being glued together. Likewise, a poor repair of the same issue is evident when it has been bolted 'out to in' under the arms on the wood panel instead of having the mount or replacement mount glued back into position. Both of these types of repairs seriously undermine the value of any lounger. Also check the panels under the cushions for cracks and breaks in the ply.
• Wear and patina is more than acceptable on lounge chairs and indeed many collectors are more than happy for it to be present in vintage examples.
• The desirability of the wood veneer is another value factor. The early original Rosewood chairs are the most sought after, especially those with beautiful patterns. Early Rosewood veneers actually fade a great deal to an orangery yellow almost oak appearance. They can actually be professionally restored and bring back out the amazing knots and grains of the original panels. Later Cherry panels were more red in color and there is also Walnut, Oak, Ash and Palisander which was brought in as a sustainable homage to the original Rosewood.
• Look out for special edition versions of the Herman Miller lounge chair, often sporting unusual and high quality upholstery choices. Many were released during the 2006 '50th' anniversary year and these also had a specific label to commemorate the release.