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Eames Armchair - He...
 

Eames Armchair - Help with year of production  

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zakknafein
(@zakknafein)
Eminent Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 28
01/10/2014 3:44 pm  

Hi guys,I would like to ask you about that 2 Archmairs from Eames. They seemed to be pretty old, could anyone identify the year of production? There is not such clear logo on them and also the number 12.Thanks guys for any hint. (Edited by DA. : This forum is not a free valuation service. Thanks)
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/files/forum/photo13.jp


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zakknafein
(@zakknafein)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 28
02/10/2014 2:39 pm  

Anyone anything?
- no molded Logo on the chair - just painted Miller sign
- H base with old "feets"
- Upholstery that could be removed.. no ventilation holes.
- what about the year... is it a good buy?
 
appreciated


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objectworship
(@objectworship)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 1184
03/10/2014 1:50 am  

Looks like a pretty attractive matched pair...   
I haven't seen that center disc on the H-base before.  I think the removable cover is more typically seen with an X-base; the vintages of shell/base in this case seem slightly off or non-standard but I can't say definitively.  Where in the world are the chairs?
Some sort of a transplant appears to have occurred with the feet, no cigar.


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bj
 bj
(@bj)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1404
03/10/2014 3:15 pm  

Nice color combination, me thinks! As it's a pair, I would guess this sells more easily,for instance to be placed in a bedroom.
I don't know much about Eames products and how the keep or get their value,as in europe I am rarely confronted with them.I do though own a couple of these armchairs, but naked, without upholsteryand like them very much.


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zakknafein
(@zakknafein)
Eminent Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 28
03/10/2014 3:53 pm  

Thanks for comments. what interest me the most is logo that is not molded but just painted.I would like them more without upholstery. I didnt buy them yet.... Not sure if they are worth to take.. and as well wanted to learn more. I haven't seen one like that before. I agree that removable upholstery is more common with x/base..


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2275
03/10/2014 4:51 pm  

More curious to me than the stamp are the round mounts and the adjacent rectangular lugs on the undersides of the H-bases.
Does anyone know what these are for?


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zakknafein
(@zakknafein)
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Posts: 28
03/10/2014 5:15 pm  

Thats true.. it's also first time I ve seen that..


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Eameshead
(@eameshead)
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Joined: 13 years ago
Posts: 1366
04/10/2014 6:01 pm  

For what it's worth, I do have one parchment shell with this removable type cover that has the H base (1956 or later) imprints in the shock mounts. The cover has never been removed. My shell also has the 3 embossed dots (3rd generation Zenith), so with the H base imprints it is probably around 1956.
These covers are usually earlier, but it seems quite possible that some could exist on bases as late as 1957.
Tktoo, I have never seen this round shaped thing on the underside either. Definitely the most interesting aspect! Since both have it, and it appears well done, it seems more like a factory thing rather than a home made effort. If it turns out that these are indeed factory or transitional bases, then it is also possible that these chairs could be as early as 1954 or 55, making the cover/base pairing more logical.
The painted Herman Miller logo is a mystery. The feet were probably added by an owner long ago.
But the covers are beautiful and all in all, this could be a great find. (Especially if those round parts are some kind of transitional step in the early days of the H base development. There are many changes going on with the base change steps from 1954 to 1956) 
To me, it would be a shame to take the covers off. They seem to be in near-mint condition, and they are rare color at that, and might be part of a pretty rare transitional pair.
I am guessing that if you check the underside, you might find 3 embossed (raised) dots in a small triangular pattern in the center of the four shock mounts. They might be hiding under the base, unseen. 
All of the above are only my best guesses/speculations, 


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zakknafein
(@zakknafein)
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Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 28
12/11/2014 12:56 pm  

@Eameshead, wow.. your knowledge is impressive. I would love to find out more about that chairs. Would be great to contact you on priv.. email?
A bit pitty noone else made a comment on that unusual base + the painted logo. I guess it might be some info about that..
Anyway thanks a lot Eameshead. So you think its a good find?
I will have to check out that 3 dots thing
z


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Eameshead
(@eameshead)
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Posts: 1366
14/11/2014 12:52 am  

Yes I think its a great find zakknafein,
But I am still baffled by these particular bases because of how CLEAN the fabrication  (and most of the other details) seem to be.
I should adjust my above date estimates for the earliest H bases to as early as 1954. This would also make sense with these early covers.
The earliest 1954 and 1955 H bases had black plastic tip inserts that were angled, and looked just like extensions of the iron legs, and were beveled at the floor. (The leg tips were then covered by rubber boot glides-- the same boot glides that the older 1949-1954 X bases had on them)
Then in 1956, the "one year only" rubber and metal swivel glides were used.
The glides on your bases are neither of these types, and I have never seen them.
The fabrication on most of the H bases of this era is different from your bases. The metal flanges (where the screws go through) are shaped differently from the early H bases that I am aware of.
I am unfamiliar with the look of the European versions, so perhaps that might be the answer? (Objectworship asked where in the world you are - that is probably why)
That's about all I have.


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Piotr Re
(@xpiointeria-pl)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1
30/11/2014 1:23 am  

I've just found this discussion. I am the owner of these chairs.
Armchairs were bought in Germany. Now they are in Poland.
There is no embossed logo, even triangle dots.H-base is lower than usual - approx.: 14" - is it normal H base is so low?Shockmounts diameter is 1,75"
Do you have any idea who made that armchairs? Tried to find it in the internet but without any results.




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Eameshead
(@eameshead)
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Joined: 13 years ago
Posts: 1366
01/12/2014 12:41 am  

 
Thanks for the follow up Petter, 
14" sounds about right on the height of the low H base. 
My earliest 1954 low H bases with boot glides are only 14 and 1/4 inches from the floor to the very top of the highest mounting flange. That is INCLUDING the boot glide.  It is the SHAPE of those flanges on your bases that look different to me. The height seems to be correct though.
The rubber shock mounts on your chair look like the right size as well, but possibly have different fabrication marks.
The fiberglass shells do look to be typical and original Eames, but that is only a guess. No markings in the shell would still be consistant with the 1954-55 ish date range.
I still have no clue about the painted HM logo marking. My guess is it is probably a European production.
Maybe taking the covers off would reveal something more about the look of the shell, or its edges. But dont remove the covers if they dont want to come off easily! 
Thanks.
 


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Berny Higgins
(@berny-higgins)
Active Member
Joined: 9 years ago
Posts: 9
01/06/2015 7:22 pm  

hi there ...
i'm sure: these chairs are definitely produced in germany - from 1958-1959,
by a company called "contura". contura is the first european company wich produced
fiberglas-chairs in licence of herman miller. the name "contura" changed into
"fehlbaum" and later into "vitra". contura chairs have no marks, just paperlabels as
you can see in the attach ..
greetz'



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