Recently we've come across two stunning leather sofas from the later years of the Eames Office and it's prompted us to reflect on why furniture by Charles and Ray Eames is so coveted, referenced and copied.
Back at the beginning of our collecting journey, the first hero image on our original website in 2011 was an Eames Chair. Quite likely it was the first Eames piece we ever sold – a lounge chair from the 'Group' series with its lean frame and sleek black textile together witha sculptural aluminium frame. We showed quite a close up slice of it, highlighting the minimal but very distinctive profile.
In the 14 years since 2011 we've sourced furniture examples by Charles and Ray Eames from all around New Zealand and imported it directly from the US. One of the more amusing things we noticed when we were looking at US auction sites like eBay was the frequent use of the phrase 'Eames Era' which attempts to boost the value of the listed item and connect it to the mid-century period. It seems like everyone wants to hitch onto the Eames' genius.
The impact that one couple has had on design, is quite astonishing. Ray, originally a painter, was able to bring her artistic eye to complement Charles' knowledge base in architecture and design. Individually and as a design duo they brought both a strong vision to everything they did combined with a very high standard for design and presentation. We are impressed by their ability to keep experimenting and bring in an element of play.
With decades of designs produced, what's amazing is that it's fairly impossible to find fault anywhere. Very often new designs were refinements of earlier pieces produced in the 1950s and over time it's clear that there was an underlying direction which unified everything. Inside a single decade since the first Eames piece in the 1940s, some of the most important designs were produced in materials that were very new at the time for furniture applications – fibreglass, moulded plywood and cast aluminium.
The furniture introduced a completely new look for a post-war audience who were looking for lighter products and a more modern way of living. The high level of production through Herman Miller enabled distribution to homes, schools and institutions across the country and around the world. By the time the luxurious Eames Lounger was introduced in 1956 the Eames couple were national icons and it was hugely successful.
After Charles passed away in 1978, the last design to be released from the Eames Office was the ES108 Three Seat Sofa and ES110 Two Seat Sofa. These are clearly relatives of earlier lounge designs and had been a collaborative work that was not yet finished as he died. It feels fitting that almost exactly 14 years after our first Eames chair we are introducing this pair of sofas to the market. These highly rare sofas were originally purchased for the American Express office and remain in excellent vintage condition. The walnut panelling with a bold, geometric styling to the panels is beautifully supported by the aluminium frame and enhanced by the leather cushions, bringing back the classic 'soft pad' look of the earlier designs.
Please enquire or visit our gallery for more details.
View Available Designs by Charles and Ray Eames