Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman

Is your Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman original?

There are many differences between the original Eames lounge chair & the ones manufactured more recently. Here's how you can differentiate between the vintage lounge chairs (pre-1971) and the modern ones (post-1971):

Plywood Shells

Vintage: The plywood shells were made of Brazilian rosewood veneers and were constructed in five layers of plywood.

Modern: Today, the plywood shells of the Eames Lounge Chair are made from walnut, santos palisander, or cherry. They are constructed from seven thin layers of wood veneer that are glued together and molded under heat and pressure. Brazilian rosewood was discontinued in the early 1990s due to CITES restrictions that banned its international trade after the species became endangered. Because of this, Eames Lounge Chairs made with Brazilian rosewood are significantly more valuable than those made with other wood veneers.

Hard Plastic Backings & Clips

Vintage: The molded-plastic backings have two grommets (eyelets) and two snaps (female pop studs). It is held in place by two silver-colored steel hooks and two pop studs attached to the plywood.

Modern: The plastic backings have 5 slots and one female pop stud. It is held in place by 5 blue or black steel clips screwed to the plywood seat shell.

The backing affixes to the plywood shells with these hidden clips and rings so that the outside veneer of the chair to be unmarred by screws or bolts.

Cushions

Both vintage and modern cushions are attached to the polyester backing with zippers.

Vintage: The zipper around the cushions were brown or black.

Modern: The zippers are done in a variety of colors, although still mostly black.

Stuffing

Vintage: The very original cushions (1956-1960) were filled with 100 percent down and duck feathers. After that, most chairs were stuffed with a mixture of foam and down feathers.

Modern: The filling today is a mixture of foam and fiber fill (or Dacron).

Shock Mounts

Vintage: Rubber spacers connect the aluminum spines and the wood panels.

Modern: Hard plastic washers are now used to connect the aluminum spine to the wood.

The chair has a low seat which is permanently fixed at a recline. The seat of the chair swivels on a cast aluminum base, with glides that are threaded so that the chair may remain level.

Ottoman Glides

Vintage: The ottoman has rubber boot-like glides that push onto the legs.

Modern: The ottoman has adjustable, screw-in glides.

Armrests

Vintage: The very early chairs had 3 screws securing the armrests to the body of the chair.

Modern: Later on, only 2 screws were used.

Label

Vintage: The earlier chairs have a round white and gold Herman Miller label.

Modern: Between 1970's and 1990, a black rectangular Herman Miller label was used. Chairs manufactured since the 1990's have a silver rectangular Herman Miller label.