Charles Eames

Charles Eames – American Architect and Modern Furniture Designer

Charles Eames – 1907-1978 USA

Charles Eames was born in St Louis, USA, 1907. He studied architecture at Washington University.

The Cranbrook Academy of Arts, Michigan provided him a fellowship in 1936. His colleagues there included Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia and Ray Kaiser who later became his wife in 1941.

Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen won the award for “Organic Design in Home Furnishings” competition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1940.

Charles Eames was the first architect to be totally at home with technology. He used technology with an artist’s flair.

The United States Army commissioned him to produce plywood stretchers and splints during the second World War, Charles and Ray Eames developed a new method to bend plywood into complex curves over three geometric planes.

This led to his design of the LCM chair in 1945, it had a moulded plywood seat and back with compound curves on metal legs

He was the first person to produce compound curves with moulded plywood.

In 1956 he designed the famous Lounge chair 670 and Ottoman 671 to replace the overstuffed wingchair. It was made of laminated Rosewood with leather padding, and the same bend was used for all the pieces. Eames’ 670 chair and Van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair are considered the two greatest furniture designs of the 20th Century.

Eames and Saarinen mastered the machine so that it was no longer threatening and able to do as they asked.

LCM Chair Versatle and available in two heights, lounge and dining, the simple form of this chair makes the classic design famous.

670 Chair and 671 Ottoman the first real lounge chair invented. Easily recognized.

Plywood Table similar in design form to the LCW chair.

La Chaise an organic free form curvaceous shell piece of furniture.

Storage Unit functional and still at home with today’s design styles.

LCW Chair simple lounge chair in it’s form and yet comfortable and a good design style.

Walnut Stools simple turned design their main highlight is the natural timber grain.

Eliptical Table Simple modern design and functional purpose, a great accessory for the home.

Wirebase Table a practical small table, suitable for any home, simple design and function.

Aluminium Group – Charles and Ray Eames

More Charles Eames Resources

Ray Eames Biography

Color Consultant course