I've got an eames shell that someone painted...any idea how can i strip it?  

first thing that popped in my mind...
...wait is it the gold chair. He-he. Sandblast (maybe excessive), or pressure wash which works for spray paint? Just a thought.

Acetone
will dissolve the gel coat as well, exposing the fiberglass fibers (not pleasant for bare skin)
There was a shell on eBay a little while ago that was stripped and it still looked good. The seller claimed to use some "all-natural" stripping agent.

so, you think if i go to...
so, you think if i go to home depot or lowe's and ask for an all natural stripper that will do the trick? that sounds a whole lot easier than sand blasting : )

It can be rather difficult...
to find an all-natural stripper these days... most of them have had some kind of work done.

Au natural
Home Depo does have a "natural" non-toxic(?) paint remover...can't recall the name. Takes up to an hour, and wipes off, followed with a wash.
Powerwashing seems promising, non-toxic enviromentally safe....clean-up of removed paint the challange. I would be concerned about damaging the shell underneath...using the lowest setting and graduating up until you're in tune. You can rent these at Home Depo...staff should be able to assist you.

go to home depot/lowes and...
go to home depot/lowes and get a stripper called citrustrip.
leave on about 20 minutes, then rub of with a textured sponge. maybe the yellow sponges with the green textured side. then rinse off an dry. then apply a product called nu finish found at your local auto parts store. works perfect, i have done it many times
matt

thanks!
thank you so much for the advice. i'm going to try this tomorrow and will post pics in the coming days!
Jer

Funny!
WoodyWood that was funny anad no one seemed to even notice

I'm with Olive
I can't believe it four replies before someone complimented woodywood on his fine witticism. And how come it's only the women who got that joke?