eames plywood elephant  

So much talk abouth an elephant....
I have always liked that little elephant, but than again...I bought Eames games for my children and guess what...no matter how worn out the "memory" game is, my grand children still play it and are very pleased when they beat there "Morfar" (which is what I am to them).
But back to the elephant. Of course it is sad that it never reached production, of course it is sad that it is put on the market out of reach for people like myself but let's face it...The Eames foundation has strong ties with Vitra and so it is an obvious for them to turn to Vitra...or the other way around...to celebrate grandpa Chuck by producing a yet un-produced piece of this heritage. I might be wrong, but I am quite sure that Vitra never sold to Target, Wall-mart or any other box store for that matter. In other words, their market are those stores who are selling Vitra products...and that market is willing to pay a small fortune for a limited edition...sad maybe, but not different fron any other commercial activity. Are baseball players our Basket ball gods overpaid?...not if you look at the advertizing revenues of the games and you divide the loot reasonably between owners and players. The Vitra game is not different. There question is simply: where is the highest monetary gain on the scale between high volume and low margin and low volume and high margin....or how can we make the most money out of the smallest possible production? What we see is the market's response to that simple question. Would Ray and Charles be pleased? Maybe yes but probably not, and we are not in a position to ask them either.
Come to think of it, I participated in a newspaper competition to win one of these cute red animals...now I realize that I would not know what to do with it...I am very lucky I did not win one!!

koen
my beef is not with Vitra I truly think they are one of the great companies going, and there museum is fantastic, funny that Herman Miller was not asked to make the elephanats but we are not Pivey to that situation.
Vitra has kept the price in lin one the shell chairs and lots of items that they make for eames as well as Herman miller.
My mom died and left my twin brother a large lalique collection that would rival any small museum so I know what good stuff cost, but this little wooden elephant caught me so off guard that it would be priced like it was, I want to say it was a slap in the face but it did not. I did not take it that personal as objects of desire are just that objects , but I think that the family should have thought about this and there fans and said this is a little strong even for the rich ones.

Dear LRF
...I feel the same way, but there are somethings in life that..although wrong, are not worth the fight....like about with an H at the end...sorry for that and other mistakes.

I can only speak for myself,...
I can only speak for myself, but I am certainly not trying to fight anything. I am only venting. I'm not silly enough to think there is anything I could possibly do to change it.

Ridiculous
I agree with the prevailing sentiment here -- a ridiculous price for this product. Charles & Ray would be rolling over in their graves if they knew about this -- I'm pretty sure they never tried to sell "limited edition" products. Eames Demetrious should be ashamed of himself.
Of course, if the Eameses were still alive today, they'd probably make the elephant out of some biodegradable & sustainable material (or perhaps some hi-tech plastic that's nonetheless good for the earth), AND make sure that the price point is not so ridiculous that only the Rich can afford to buy one. (Not that their stuff was ever Target- or Walmart cheap, f course, but it was affordable by regular people of discerning tastes).
Anyway, isn't this a great opportunity for an enterprising young person out there? Make your own 'plywood elephant' (just don't call it the 'EAMES plywood elephant'), price it at $150 or so, and make a bundle!.

Dear LRF
And I truly mean the Dear part - while I disagree with you (near) constantly I dont think you are a bad person, and I am certainly not interested in tearing you down or making you feel bad. I was simply making a playful jab at the comment about who makes what money off of the Eames. I've profited from the Eames name as well. It was just a tease, nothing more. I'm sorry if you took offense.
And as for Mr. Demetrious - I'm sure I would talk about many things with him, but I doubt the elephant would be one of them. (a case of 'if you cannot say something nice, dont say anything at all') I have already agreed with you that the Elephant - as cute as the object may be - is ridiculously priced.

I dont think you are a bad pe...
I dont think you are a bad person,
Thanks for the endorsement

its not worth the fight, you...
its not worth the fight, you can't change it,
Sorry Koen I disagree whole heartedly. The easiest way to change western society is through the wallet, theres a fluidity there that is a great enabler of change, its also the easiest way to make change. In what other conexts should we not bother to discourage people to do certain things becuase its seems like a battle? Healthcare, the environment?
I thinks it a defeatist attitude.

Lets do it!
Lets try it! The email for the Eames Office is:info@eamesoffice.com
and the feedback page for Vitra US is: http://vitra.com/feedback/default.asp?lang=us_us
Here's a sample text you can cut and paste, add onto, or use as inspiration for your own letter.
Dear Mr. Demetrios,
I am pleased that the Eames Office and Eames Foundation continue the legacy of two of the greatest designers of the 20th century ? proving that the Eames work is as relevant today as it ever was. However, I am saddened to see the new production of the Plywood Elephant retail for such a high amount of money. This seems to fly in the face of the Eames philosophy of "the best, for the most, for the least" as well as the Elephant's original purpose as a child?s toy.
Charles Eames spoke of design as fulfilling a 'need'. What 'need' does the Elephant fulfill at this price point?
Isn't there a 'need' now, more than ever, for children's toys that break away from the violent, gender specific, virtual-worlds of video games and Barbie dolls? A 'need' to engage children with a toy that encourages physical activity and imaginative play? An object that reasserts the democratization of good design? What better way to introduce a child (and their parents) into the wonderful world of good design than with a beautifully made and intellectually stimulating toy?
Pricing the Elephant at over $2000 fills only the 'need' of offering a collector one more object for their trophy wall. It is disappointing to see the Eames Office move in this direction. I strongly urge you to reconsider the production and retailing of the Eames Plywood Elephant. Please make it affordable so that my children, my nieces and nephews, and someday my grandchildren will be able to enjoy it!
Sincerely,

Post this message
Post the above message to all the design blogs you can think of. Lets see what happens.

BY G-D LUCIFERSUM
you ...
BY G-D LUCIFERSUM
you said that with dignity and class and i for one could not have said it better !!!!!
come on down and take a big bow cause you did a good job on that one
good boy!!!!!!