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Snaaf
(@snaaf)
Eminent Member
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 30
07/05/2015 1:18 am  

*Sorry for repost. I firstly posted it in the wrong forum topic, namely "General Discussion*(MOD: Can you delete that thread in the wrong forum, and leave this here?)Hello my dear fellow design-furniture lovers!First of all, I am new here. Let me first introduce myself a little. I'm a 27 years old student of philosophy from the Netherlands.Recently I've bought the chair of my dreams. I luckily saw the chair for sale (very, very cheap :D, you probably wouldn't believe it, but I paid only 900 dollars for it!) on the dutch craigslist, marktplaats, in a very dusty condition. I recognized it as an original very early European (cause of the vitra style feet) Eames production made for Herman Miller probably by Fehlbaum, Mobilier, Contura or maybe even Vitra.Whilst cleaning it, and sewing in two buttons that were missing in the bottom cushion, I recognized a couple of things:-It has a Herman Miller sticker on the bottom.-The bottom cushion is filled with one layer of down, and one layer of foam.-The back and the head cushion feel like ( I haven't opened them up) they're filled with down only.-Under the armrest ar three screw holes, whilst the armrest itself are only bolted onto the chair with two screws-The cushions are not saggy, but nicely soft and firm at the same time.-The quality of the leather is amazing.-I think the chair never has been repared (or in other words; never needed a repair). No (repaired) cracks in the wood, indications of unmatching screws compared to the rest of the screws or what-so-ever. Shock mounts seem to be fine (not dried out) and work like a dream when you sit in it. It's all good....I still can't believe it.What can you guys tell me about this chair? Who made it? Since I know very little about the veneer sorts, so secondly, can anyone tell me what sort of veneer it has? Thanks for sharing your thoughts in advance 🙂 !
<img class="wpforo-default-im


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Mark
 Mark
(@mark)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 4586
07/05/2015 1:42 am  

 
 
 
 
Hi,
 
 


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HowardMoon
(@howardmoon)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 652
07/05/2015 1:33 pm  

It looks to be a rosewood veneer, this is more obvious on the inside of the shells compared to the outside.
I have only ever owned Herman Miller productions of this chair so I am unfamiliar with the European versions. 
Why do you think it is an early production, is it because the cushions contain down? Herman Miller are said to have stopped using down in the early 70's, I'm not sure when Vitra stopped using down, I'm sure somebody here will know.
 


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2287
07/05/2015 7:12 pm  

Yes, it appears to be a rosewood and in remarkable condition for its age. Congratulations!
I've only ever seen one with the same or very similar orange sticker here in the US and it had, as I recall, the same features as yours. Squared-off arm pads, Euro base, old-style cushion hooks, and rubber spacers btween the back panels and aluminum supports. All indicators of '60's production I'm guessing. My memory is suspect, but I would have sworn the sticker either said "Vitra" or that the owner ID'd it as such at the time.
Now you just need to find a matching ottoman!
Oh, and would someone be kind enough to send flowers and/or an ambulance to Mark's place, please? I'm concerned that he's been mixing vodka and quaaludes again in anticipation of Mother's Day.


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Snaaf
(@snaaf)
Eminent Member
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 30
07/05/2015 8:39 pm  

Thanks for your replies guys! They help me a lot!
Finding a matching ottoman would be great. I guess it'll cost me more than the chair 😛 !
tktoo: I think the owner ID'ed it to you as a "Vitra" cause of the typical Euro style foot, that Vitra also uses in their productions of the Lounge Chair. 
I've made some better photo's today. Maybe it'll help in some sort of way.




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kin1117
(@kin1117)
Famed Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 395
08/05/2015 4:09 am  

If I didn't see the inside of the wood panels, I swear I would have guessed walnut or oak!! Anyway, congrats on the score and enjoy!!


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Snaaf
(@snaaf)
Eminent Member
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 30
08/05/2015 4:27 am  

It is indeed remarkable that on this particular chair the veneer doesn't contain any, or very little, of those for veneer eccentric wood knots. Why would that be?
Is this rosewood Brazil rosewood, since this chair is supposedly one of the first from the 60s, or does Brazil rosewood look typically different? 
Another, actually more important thing: The shock mounts. What do you guys think. The chair is about 50 years old or so, the shocks don't look bad (see pictures), but should I preventative replace them with new ones that buy from Ebay and place myself (I think I can do that)?



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Snaaf
(@snaaf)
Eminent Member
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 30
08/05/2015 4:36 am  

@kin1117: I've read your comments in this ( http://www.designaddict.com/forum/Repair/shockmount-mystery) topic, and I think theyre very helpfull! 


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kin1117
(@kin1117)
Famed Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 395
08/05/2015 4:38 am  

Don't replace shock mounts unless you see the need. Just because they're old doesn't mean they're bad. I want to comment on the the screws on the mounts though. All the Eames Lounge Chairs I've seen are HM and the screws that go into the mounts are all flat. Yours are rounded. Interesting feature. Maybe vitra Is different that way? 


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2287
08/05/2015 5:03 am  

Unless there's unwanted movement and/or scary noises coming from them under stress, I'd leave them alone. They appear almost as new to me.
Get into the habit of feeling around in there while sitting in the chair. It's tight, but I can fit a fingertip in here and there and that's enough to detect a developing problem. Creaky noises are often a warning, too.


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kin1117
(@kin1117)
Famed Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 395
08/05/2015 8:53 pm  

I learned from one very respected expert restorer of Eames furniture that when a shock mount breaks, the vast majority of the time, it's the ones on the seat panel, rather than the back panel, that break. I've seen around 10 chairs with broken shock mounts, 9 of the confirm that idea and the 1 that broke on the back was a replica. I don't know if it helps when it comes to regular maintenance.


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NULL NULL
(@nicholasoneillbarbergmail-com)
Trusted Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 70
11/05/2015 9:57 am  

take that damn patterned pillow off the chair. 


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My Panton Home
(@my-panton-home)
Prominent Member
Joined: 12 years ago
Posts: 193
11/05/2015 11:30 pm  

For reference, the Panton chairs made by Vitra in 1968-69 used the same orange HM sticker under the seat.
They could of course have been used earleir than that on other chairs.


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Snaaf
(@snaaf)
Eminent Member
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 30
14/05/2015 7:13 pm  

@My Panton Home: Thanks. Tthats some good reference! It all adds up, you know :)!
@bshop22: I like the pillow there a lot, so shut up :D. (But it's also pretty without it) 


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tktoo
(@tktoo)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2287
15/05/2015 4:12 am  

I won't comment on the cushion. One tends to slide down and forward in these things, especially taller folks, so I can understand wanting to add some lumbar support.
I will  however recommend moving it farther from the radiator when the seasons change as well as keeping it out of direct sunlight. Nice looking chair, there. No reason it shouldn't stay that way.
Good luck with the otto quest. It'll happen eventually.
And I'm still a little worried about Aunt Mark.


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