value of Eames chairs?  

A great range of value (part 1)
Hi Sharon,
The Eames' fiberglass chairs can be tricky to put a price on. The chairs were made by the millions from 1953-1993 in fiberglass. With this great range a number of different factors can dramatically change the value of the chairs. Big things are:
1: Being a very early production by a company called Zenith that originally made the chairs for Herman Miller. The Zenith chairs usually have a small square red and white label. They also have a visible fiberglass rope that runs along the underside edge of the chair.
2: Rare colors - The chairs were made in standard colors and special order, or 'contract' colors. The contract colors are considered rare - altho that doesnt make them more 'desirable'. For example - Red-Orange is a standard color - but people LOVE it so red-orange chairs are desirable. Seafoam green: rare, but not as inherently desirable as red-orange.
3: Type of base. The chairs were made with about 25 different bases over the years. Some more desirable bases are rocker bases, low-rod "cats cradle" base, and the "eiffel tower" base. Often times people now will buy a vintage shell and slap a new base onto it. Its called "marrying" the chairs and a good example are some of the rockers on Ebay. A good armshell can run about 150-200$, a new rocker base can run $80-$125. These jokers then sell them for 500-700$ - the price of an all vintage rocker. (or at least they try)
Some other minor factors can affect value:
Condition: is the color faded? is the fiberglass scratched- or worse: cracked? is the naugahyde supple? does it have any tears?
Holes: sometimes people used the fiberglas chairs for lawn furniture - then they drilled holes in the bottom to let rainwater out. Bastards. NOTE: the upholstered chairs had holes drilled in them at the factory to let air pressure out.
Shockmounts: these are the heavy rubber washers glued to the bottom of the chairs. Sometimes they separate and have to be reglued. Some of the upholstered chairs did not have shockmounts, but bolts going directly into the seats.
Base condition: does the base move properly (if a swivel/tilt base? Is it rusted? if it is zinc or steel does it have any breaks or rewelding?
If you're not comforatable using Ebay, you can try selling them at a local auction, or to a local mid-century design store. Craigslist is a good resource as well. Generally speaking tho, you can sell for better prices on Ebay, because the market is much wider. (unless you happen to be in a design crazed place like LA, NYC, San Fran, Cambridge etc)
For some history try checking out Eames Design, Eames: a Legacy of invention, and the Eames Primer. Most should be available at your library. I've also added a link to Eames Collector - a decent online historical site.
I hope this has been helpful for you Sharon- happy selling! Some tips for selling the chair follow in the next post.
http://www.eamescollector.com

Range of Value (part2)
All of the above factor into the value of a chair. However- there is a decent market on these things, and as long as you dont get greedy you can use Ebay to your advantage.
First off - see if you can find a local midcentury shop to offer you an appraisal. Most musty-dusty antique shops sneer at mid century stuff, so take it to someone who knows what they are doing. A quick search on yahoo yellow pages should work. If they offer you a decent price you may have found a buyer - or you can take that information and head for the Great Marketplace: Ebay.
Second - decide if you want to sell the chairs/bases separately. I dislike doing this because I like the inherent personality a chair has. Swapping out bases is kind of like offering a loved one plastic surgery. (IMHO) The reason that I say decide now is because if you sell them on ebay almost invariably someone will ask for a price on just the shell. You can refuse to split them if you'd like.
Third: Take lots of good photos. Nothing kills a sale like crappy lighting. Get shots of the fabric, the shockmounts, the bases, any tears of scratches in the fabric. Be honest -often people are willing to accept flaws - they just dont like to be surprised by them.
Fourth: box them up, weigh them, and figure out how to use Ebays shipping calculator. The tilt/swivel bases can be heavy - so its good to have an accurate measurement/poundage to give shipping quotes. You'll probably also be asked how much to ship overseas. The chairs tend to be popular in places like China and Japan and some of the European countries. Its up to you whether to offer overseas shipping or not.
Fifth: start reasonable. I'd say take what your appraisal gives you and start about 10% less. I've seen bidding soar on these chairs. I've also seen beautiful pieces go for dirt cheap. Its all about who's on Ebay on any given day.
Finally: have no regrets. If the chairs dont fit into your decor than selling them is the best option. If they sell for a bundle thats wonderful and you've made some cash. If they sell for less than expected, just pretend the buyer is a poor design student who is thrilled about getting a great deal.
For more on that joyful subject search the archives for "best bargain/find ever" - its a great read. 😀

Thank You LuciferSum
I read everything you sent & every link. I've checked out some appraisers online & will call tomorrow. Really good info from you & I thank you. I especially appreciate the last thought about "no regrets" - that's good advice. I had already read the best find article & thought it was interesting. Thanks again.