Charles & Ray Eames, chair EA-117 for Vitra

CHARLES EAMES (USA, 1907-1978) and RAY EAMES (USA, 1912-1988).
Office chair model EA-117.
Chromed aluminum base and armrests, upholstery in original red leather. Latest generation with chrome ring at the edges.
With casters. Adjustable height and tilt function.
Minor signs of wear and patina.
Produced by Vitra.
Measurements; height 95/84 x 58 x 59 cm, 61/50 (seat height).

EA-117 by Vitra, designed by Charles & Ray Eames in 1958 as part of the Aluminium Group series, is a mid-back swivel office chair characterized by its lightweight aluminum frame (polished or chromed) and a seat and backrest formed by a stretched fabric or leather panel -without padding- that adapts to the body and provides comfort; it incorporates integrated armrests, five-spoke base with casters, adjustable height and adjustable tilt mechanism, combining ergonomics, durability and a modern, elegant and visually very light aesthetic.

Charles and Ray Eames, a husband and wife 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, and 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.