As the title suggests, I have a very lucky situation where I'd like to share and brag about =)
In my experience of collecting Eames the past few years, I've been very blessed with getting my hands on some very interesting and unique pieces. Among them include a pair of Eames Lounge Chairs and Ottomans that have the boot glides and 3 screws under the arms. In addition, I have one set that has the most beautiful grain pattern that's from the 70's.
My question is what I should keep. I practically use only one set (the one from 70's) in the living room. And I have one of the old ones in my study just to look pretty. The other old one stays in storage. Obviously I can live without 1 or 2 of them and turn it into a little profit.
Please let me know what you would do in my shoes.
Note the second pix is of the chair from the 70's. How could I part with that? =(
<img class="wpforo-default-ima
Sure you want to live without one or two of them Kin?
Some of us are simply unable to make these decisions when it comes to our favorite chairs.
We are called hoarders.
As you know, the hard part is that every chair is such a great example-- of one thing or another.
And they are all so different.
And you can't appreciate that unless you have more than one or two.
So the sub-categories just keep multiplying exponentially.
At least at your house you are never far from a 670.
I don't see the "twins" getting separated any time soon.
Congrats on yet another great find!
HowardMoon, The answer to your question is yes. In fact, the differences are not even subtle. First of all, if you look at the height difference of the arm rests between the 2 old chairs in my original post, the arm of the chair on the right is about an inch higher. That tells me that a lot of handwork was involved in the manufacturing of the early chairs. As a result, there's a lot of individual differences in each chair. Also, the angle at which the shock mounts is attached can vary drastically as well, resulting in chairs having different levels of recline.
I've attached a few pix that I took a few years ago when I compared the lower back panels of my old chair and a 2012 production. The old chair has a much pointier edge compared to the newer chair. Also, the seat panel on the old chair has a much narrower area where the shock mounts are attached compared to the 2012 chair. Actually I may not be answering your question directly regarding the differences between my old chairs and the 70's chair as I'm speaking more about the much newer production. But I think you get the point. In fact, why do you ask??
A small correction; I meant the arm rest on the chair on the right is an inch LOWER than the other. I also just verified that the 70's chair has a similar profile as the 2012 chair which makes me believe even back in the 70's, chairs were already more machine made and with less of a human touch.
Eameshead, I cannot agree more with what you said about our hoarder status. At one point, I had 7 670/671's and I literally HAD to sell them. Also, even between my current old chairs, there're still many subtle differences that make it real hard to let one or the other go. Life is hard =D
I ask because I recently had a 1970's British Herman Miller production which I placed next to my mid 60's American Herman Miller version for a comparison. The differences were very obvious once they were side by side.
The 70's chair on the right of the images has a spider base that terminates higher giving the chair a taller stature. The back stand offs are bigger and chunkier, the armrests are 1cm longer and the lower back and headrest shells are deeper. This chair was made during Charles Eames lifetime (just) so I wonder if he sanctioned the changes to the original design.
I am assuming that 70's American production chairs were not altered in this way and your images above would seem to confirm this. I would also like to compare a modern Vitra chair to see if they have continued with the 'beefed up' model or have reverted to the original.
Has this been discussed on here before?
Sorry to hijack your thread. If i was forced to make a choice between your chairs I think I would pick the oldest example you have, you cant beat the feel of the feather cushions. Chairs with pretty grain patterns show up more regularly than very early examples don't they?
Hi.
Good sense has just knocked upon my double red door. Yup. I own 2 of these Eames Brothers chairs. An older girl from one of my fathers offices (rosewood/shiny black leather and 2 ottomans for some strange reason) and the 2nd being a 10 year old model plopped into my Florida den in boring cherry/matte sable brown leather..one ottoman. The pieces have never met, and live 1114 miles apart. I've always suspected the following.
* The older chair is slightly larger.
* Shock mounts can last forever if you stay on a diet.
* Billy Wilder was not handsome, and became rather short and thick in his later years. Smoker.
* Fashionable Arlene Francis is still dead. Wonder if she smoked?
* The Donald has odd grooming habits...or none at all.
* I wore a fabulous pink linen jacket to a luncheon today...and a straw hat.
* Eameshead is my friend.
* The more you pee, the less you cry.
* I know a secret that I can't share.
* Don't forget to feed the birds.
* Never argue with a pig.
* Chrome is wicked on taste buds.
* Basically everything that I smell this month has to do with money and time. I can't _________.
* I adore all of you fine folk.
Hi,
Aunt Mark
ps. I like your chairs.
HowardMoon, I need a bit of a history lesson here. When you say British Herman Miller, I thought you meant Vitra. Apparently that's not the case. I'm quite shocked by the size differences in your 2 chairs. Can you post more detailed pix of the chairs with the cushions removed, especially the larger chair. I'm very intrigued.
Object, your pictorial confession gave me permission to share my borderline pathological obsession. Once upon a time in the garage..... It's cathartic.
Kin, I no longer have the 70's chair in my possession but I can tell you that underneath the cushions everything is the same, same cushion clips, screws and shockmounts I think. The only difference is the inside of the shells on the British version are stained black.
Herman Miller had a factory in the UK (in Watford I believe) during the 70's. Prior to this the chair was produced under license in the UK by Hille.
"I'm just gonna sell enough to support my habit."
The slippery slope, kin. I'm sure many here have either entertained the notion, taken the plunge, or witnessed others transition from "enthusiast" to dealer. Success rate varies, of course, but my casual observation leads me to believe that addicts rarely do well in the long run.
Niceguy's advice might be the best so far.
tktoo,
The few people who know of my collection occasionally ask why I am not in the re-sale business. My simple reply is: the same reason monkeys are not in the banana business.
I failed to mention "gifting chairs" to deserving individuals. It is so much easier than selling. How crude and pedestrian it is being a ribbon salesman.
You guys are all very helpful, especially for Eameshead, to be willing to be the recipient of Kin's Gifting Program. I won't lie; I like making a little bit of cash too when I sell pieces that I can no longer keep.
In fact, I like the idea of having my chairs take vacations at someone's house where they'll be appreciated and "gently" used and then coming back home to me. At the end of the day, I'll still be the owner of all of them.
I know; I'm not a very generous person =)
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