Charles & Ray Eames, EA-108 chair for Vitra

CHARLES EAMES (USA, 1907-1978) and RAY EAMES (USA, 1912-1988).
Vitra armchair, model EA-108, Designed in 1969.
Seat and back with original red leather, swivel base and armrests in chromed aluminum.
Produced by Vitra in the year 2005
Some signs of wear and patina.
Measurements; 83 x 58 x 59 cm, seat height 47 cm.

The EA-108 by Vitra, designed by Charles & Ray Eames in 1958 as part of the Aluminium Group series, is a swivel chair with a more corporate and meeting character than an operational office, recognizable by its lightweight aluminum frame (polished or chromed), integrated armrests and four-spoke base without casters; its seat and backrest are made of a stretched panel of leather, fabric or mesh between aluminum profiles, which adapts to the body without the need for thick padding and offers great comfort; it has a medium backrest and elegant proportions, making it ideal for boardrooms or representative spaces, combining visual lightness, ergonomics and a technical and timeless design typical of the Eames.

Charles and Ray Eames, husband and wife and artistic couple, worked in the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine art and film, and are responsible for numerous designs that have become classics of the 20th century. Charles Eames studied architecture for two years at the University of Washington, then began his career working in a studio 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, son of his teacher Eliel Saarinen, he designed the trophy for the Organic Design Prize, awarded by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1941, after divorcing his first wife, he married fellow Cranbrook artist 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," 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. They are currently represented in the Design Museum in London and the MoMA in New York, among many others.