Charles & Ray Eames, Soft Pad EA-217 Chair for Vitra

CHARLES EAMES (U.S., 1907–1978) & RAY EAMES (U.S., 1912–1988) for Vitra.
Vitra Soft-Pad office chair. Model EA-217.
Cognac-colored aniline leather, including the backrest; five-legged base with casters.
With casters. Height-adjustable and tilt function.
Chrome-plated aluminum base and armrests, new upholstery.
The chair has new upholstery, and the base shows slight signs of wear.
Manufactured by Vitra.
Measurements: height 95/84 x 59 x 60 cm, 61/50 (seat height).

The EA-217 by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra is an iconic swivel office chair from the Soft Pad series (1969), characterized by its elegant aluminum frame (polished or chrome-plated) and its padded cushions upholstered in leather or fabric, which provide great comfort; It features a medium-height backrest, integrated armrests, a five-star base with casters, adjustable height, and a weight-adjustable tilt mechanism, making it suitable for extended use in high-end executive or home office environments, combining a lightweight aesthetic, ergonomic comfort, and premium materials in a timeless piece of modern style.

Charles and Ray Eames, a married couple and artistic partners, worked in the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine arts, and film, and are responsible for numerous designs that have become 20th-century classics. Charles Eames studied architecture for two years at the University of Washington, and then began his career working at a firm on residential housing projects. In 1938, he moved to Cranbrook, Michigan, to continue studying architecture and design at the city’s Academy of Art. There he became a professor and headed the industrial design department. Together with Eero Saarinen—the son of his professor, Eliel Saarinen—he designed the trophy for the Organic Design Award, presented by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1941, after divorcing his first wife, he married his Cranbrook colleague, Ray Kaiser. Together they settled in Los Angeles, where they remained for the rest of their lives. In the late 1940s, Ray and Charles designed their home together, known as the “Eames House,” which is now considered a masterpiece of modern architecture. In the 1950s, the couple continued to work in architecture and furniture design, pioneering the use of new techniques and materials such as fiberglass and plastic resin in the manufacture of chairs. Their work is currently represented at the Design Museum in London and the MoMA in New York, among many other institutions.