eames/vitra debate  

Translation?
huh?

Rough translation
Roughly....The dispute between ICF and Vitra had nothing to do with quality of product. The only real result of the legal battle between ICF and Vitra, is that it allowed Vitra to increase it's price to the point of the 670 and 671 available new in the USA for about 3,500 USD, and the same product by Vitra about 5,900 Euro or 8,850 USD according to today's exchange rate.
A rough translation, rough.

Sweet
thanx!

Need help identifying an Eames style chair as an ICF
Hello,
I recently purchased an Eames style chair. I was completely stumped at first since so many of the tell tail signs were not present. The chair has the 5 star base and the ottoman has the 4 star base but the bases are not quite right. I am not that familiar with the task chair base but that might be it. The main reason that I thought that the chair was not Herman Miller is that it has the extra set of connectors on the head set.
Then I saw a 100% identical chair --currently listed on ebay (keywords eames chair italy). The seller states that her chair has a sticker stating made in Italy.
I can send you photos of my chair (if you provide an email address) or it might be simpler for you to check the ebay listing since they have tons of detailed photos and it is identical to mine.
My chair does not have a made in Italy sticker or any other labels but every last detail matched up with the ebay made it Italy chair. Then I did some research and learned about ICF but was unable to find details about the differences or detailed photos of an ICF 670 chair. I would greatly appreciate if you could share your research with me and photos of your chair
Also would you have any information related to the value of the ICF licensed 670?
My chair is missing a few buttons -- is there any way to get color matched replacements? Also I am missing 2 of the shocks for where the brace connects to the headrest. Will the Herman Miller shocks work on the ICF chair?
Dan
(I am new to this forum - if there is a way to send me a private message I will provide you with my email address)

Is this the chair you are tal...
Is this the chair you are talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eames-Era-Inspired-Italian-Leather-Lounge-Chair-...

I have to agree, many...
I have to agree, many american designs from the fifties and sixties are iconic, but then we tend to forget the timeless designs from scandinavia, where for me the greatest products were produced regarding quality, execution, craftmenship & design.
Many american designs seem designed within the booming context of the american fifties and sixties: the use of steel, plastic, fiberglass, plywood as fast solutions for the growing population and standard of living.

Italian Eames lounger
Yes that is the chair that I am talking about. It is 100% identical to my chair.
From reading on this forum I found out that Alivar made unlicensed Eames loungers in Italy. I also found another company named Shaf that made unlicensed Eames style lounge chairs in Italy. The one photo that I found of a Shaf chair is similar to mine but I saw a couple major differences. At first (from photos before purchasing), I thought that my chair had 7 layers of plywood but on closer inspection looks like 8. Also, as you can see in the photos on the Ebay chair, there is a metal plate on the base of the ottoman and there are rough welds where the legs of the base connect to the cylinder. There are also capped off bolts on the underside of the arm rest. All of these factors make me think that it is probably not a licensed chair. Then again, I know that ICF did make minor changes to the chairs. I am just baffled by how close this chair looks to a genuine Eames chair. The quality and comfort are definitely superior to a George Mulhauser designed Plycraft chair that I own. Any help in identifying the maker of the chair would be greatly appreciated. (no intention of selling -- and regardless of whether or not it is a licensed chair, I am happy with my purchase. I just want to satisfy my own curiosity.) As stated in my earlier message, I need to replace a few buttons on the chair and a couple of the shock mounts. Figure if I know the maker, it will be easier to find the right shock mounts (to my uneducated eye, they look very similar to the HM mounts).
Thanks
Dan

ICF
were, for a time, licensed to produce Eames designs.
The chair in that listing is nowhere close to genuine.