Eames DAH identification

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crdnrd

(@crdnrd)

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30/12/2013 4:46 am

I recently picked up a salmon colored DAH from a local thrift store. It was in rough shape but I have been working on cleaning it up with very nice results. I was hoping if I described everything I know about it someone could help identify the year it would possibly be from.
It is a salmon orange color and the back was painted a beige color.
It had its original narrow mount "H" base but it was in rough shape and the bottom of one leg is very rusty and can not be salvaged. The base is black in color and has metal glides instead of the plastic ones I am used to seeing.
It has the small shock mounts instead of the larger early ones.
There are no markings or embossings anywhere on the chair. I have heard that in the earlier years the chairs were not always marked though.
Any information or dating help would be really appreciated.

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muehlebach

(@muehlebach)

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30/12/2013 5:51 am

Crdnrd
We like pictures around here. Try posting a few.
It is going to be pretty difficult to give you an exact year when it was made but we might be able to give you a time frame.

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Eameshead

(@eameshead)

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30/12/2013 6:00 am

54 to 57 ish?
and if the metal glides you speak of are rubber and metal, then it might be in the 1956 range. But it could be a bit earlier. The examples with painted backs had covers on them originally. I think. But yes, we do like pictures.

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crdnrd

(@crdnrd)

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30/12/2013 9:07 pm

Eames DAH Identification
Thanks for your help so far. I have attached photos below. Please let me know if there are any other key angles I should post.

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Eameshead

(@eameshead)

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30/12/2013 9:21 pm

1956
Assuming that the legs are original to the shell, the glides alone date the chair to 1956 or 1957.
These glides were probably produced only 1956, but are sometimes found on 1957 shells as well, due to leftover stock being used up.
(I guess you removed the paint from the back of the shell?) I don't see it.

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crdnrd

(@crdnrd)

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30/12/2013 9:24 pm

Eames DAH Identification
2 more of it originally before I sanded the paint off. I know some people may hate that but the paint was scratched off in parts already and it seamed like that was going to be the best way for me to bring new life to the shell and actually use it in my home.

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Eameshead

(@eameshead)

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30/12/2013 9:27 pm

nice job
That factory paint is hard to get off. Looks great now.

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crdnrd

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30/12/2013 9:31 pm

I removed the paint
Yes. I tried oxiclean on the paint to get the dirt out but once it started to clean up I started noticing a lot of spots that had been worn through to show the original coloring. At that point I had to make the decision to remove the paint completely or repaint it and decided that it would look better to just sand all of the paint off.

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crdnrd

(@crdnrd)

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30/12/2013 9:37 pm

Thank you!
The factory paint was tough. It took a few hours of sanding with 220 but I think it looks beautiful now. On the same day I removed the foam from another chair that I am just going to use as a back up dining chair. Whatever glue was used for the foam is insanely strong even after 30 years.

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