Dear forum readers,
I have recently bought a long sought Eames lounge chain with ottoman produced by Vitra from a private seller. The chair is black leather rosewood/palisander and its condition is very good. I was told it was bought in 1999 and as far as i can inspect it, it ticks all the boxes it should to be an original.
One thing puzzles me though: the makes label says "Herman Miller made by Vitra" (see photo). I have seen online some other Eames lounge chairs with a similar label, yet these were produced in the 70s or thereabout.. Also, there is a "Herman Miller, Designed by Charles Eames" sticker on the ottoman. I thought the marks should have looked different for a chair of that age.
Can anyone provide me with a qualified explanation?
I wouldn't worry labeling was all over the place on the European lounge chairs, I've even seen them mislabeled with the orange sticker similar to yours but saying designed by George Nelson. Yours are original.
It seems to me that you possibly have a set from different years of production. I think the black label is more of an early 80's production and the orange more 1970s. Or there is the chance of it being a changeover period and you were lucky and got 2 different labels.
To my knowledge if it were a 90s chair it would have a larger black labels with the Eames signature on it saying 'original Eames lounge chair' with the Eames signature and a small vitra logo.
Hope this helps, enjoy your lounge chair!
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