Hi, it's been a good last couple weeks with my collection. Just picked up a pair of Zenith first generation Eames Arm Shell Chairs. They have the boot glides and large shock mounts. I know they're old, but did they come after the ones with the Dome of Silence glides? Any specific date? Thanks for your time.
Those are simply phenomenal,...
Those are simply phenomenal, Kin. Don't typically see zinc-plated X-bases either, and they look great against those shells.
Looks like these should have the angled push-on glides. ModernConscience sells sets of four for $28. Reminds me I need to order some for my DCMs....
To top off the good find, I...
To top off the good find, I got them at a very nice price too. The guy was so nice that he kept the chairs for me for a few days although some people had offered him quite a bit more money.
I'll try to take more photos later on but they in fact have the rope edge all the way around which I believe makes them first generation. But again I'm not sure if they actually predated the ones with the DOS glides. Seller said they were from 1951. Sounds about right?
Nice find Kin...
The rope edged chair production dates are widely thought to be 1949 to 1950, or possibly to 1951. Nobody seems to be able to narrow it down with any more certainty than that.
(But then again, the Chen collection "MAX" chair example dates a Zenith rope shell to 1954 (??!!) and I believe a catalog listing is cited with the example. See EamesDesign website)
The white lozenge shaped thingy under the standard checkerboard label is a bit less common, so perhaps someone here might know if that indicates an earlier or later production date. There was also a smaller, rectangular, narrower Zenith label.
I believe that the "domes of silence" glides generally appeared on DAX chairs until 1953-ish. Boot glides were used from 54- 57. But there are bound to be examples that overlap these dates.
Really nice looking chairs!
Thanks, Eameshead, or I...
Thanks, Eameshead, or I should say, Eames Shell Head, for sharing your wealth of experience with the shell chairs. You mentioned the rope edge ones were from around 49-51 but then mine have the boot glides which put them at 54-57. Doesn't that conflict with the dates? Please she's more light on it if anyone can.
Initially I thought about converting one of them into a rocker but later on decided against it because there's nothing better than having original parts. In fact, I'm going to order some boot glides from Graham Mancha. The ones you see I just took them from my old dcm. The new toys always get pampered =)
Tktoo, thanks for understanding my excitement. These are my first shell chairs. And now I know why everyone raves about them. They're absolutely beautiful especially under some light. Is it true that the darker shells tend to show more fiber too? I still cannot thank the seller enough for keeping his word and held the chairs for me =)
I agree with Woody...
...in spite of my stated rough dates for the shells and the legs, it certainly does not seem uncommon to see rope shells on the solid legs once in awhile.
With all of these various Eames components, there are a lot of different quirks and combinations around. Lots of transition and lots of production overlap (as woody says, probably due to stock that was not always used immediately)
Re the exact dates: For quite awhile I compiled fairly detailed notes on component dates through reading lots of articles and watching sales. Eventually, certain dates just emerge as "the usual", over and over again. Now I just cross-check anything that seems like an "outlier" to the ever evolving profile of dates.
Kin, your find is now duly noted for the record. Seems to be no reason anybody would go to the trouble to fake something like that.
It is always helpful to get the back-story on items if you can though. I trust sellers most when they don't know anything. (Like when 99% of their sales are doll clothes or fishing lures, you at least have a chance that nothing has been messed with!
I'm sure there are more out there just like yours.
Signed,
Eames Shell Head
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