Armchair
Decorative Arts and Design
On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
DESIGNERS
Charles Eames, American, 1907–1978; Ray Eames (Bernice Alexandra Kaiser), American, 1912–1988
MANUFACTURERS
Herman Miller, Inc., American, 1923–present; Zenith Plastic Co.
MEDIUM
Fiberglass, plastic, wood, metal
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Place manufactured: Zeeland, Michigan, United States
- Place manufactured: Gardena, California, United States
DATES
Designed 1950; Manufactured ca. 1951
DIMENSIONS
Overall: 33 1/2 x 24 5/8 x 23 1/4 in. (85.1 x 62.5 x 59.1 cm)
Seat height: 17 1/4 in. (44 cm.) (show scale)
MARKINGS
Paper label glued to underside of seat, divided into four sections and printed as follows: upper left on white ground, "herman miller/furniture company" superimposed on Miller logo, with "zeeland michigan" in script at bottom. Upper right on black groound "DESIGNED BY/CHARLES EAMES". Lower left on red ground: "THE SHELL / IS MOULDED BY / ZENITH PLASTICS CO. (over logo) / GARDENA / CALIFORNIA". Lower right on white ground: Miller logo in red.
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
84.280
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Roberts
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Seat, back and arms molded from fiberglass strands and "elephant hide" gray plastic into a single shell or bucket-shaped unit into which the sitter fits; this unit raised on four splayed, light colored wooden legs, braced to each other with intersecting lengths of metal rods.
CONDITION: Chair heavily used but in stable exhibitable condition with minor conservation. Legs scratched and scarred especially on outside edges where sitter's feet would touch. Metal rods, screws, bolts, and brackets (attaching legs to rubber mounts under seat) worn and rusted especially bolts. Discoloration to bottom of seat surrounding rubber mounts. General discoloration to bottom of seat and outer edge of seat/back unit. One splotch of discoloration at center back, proper right (ca. 2"diameter).. Small dark spot (possibly a burn) at front, top of proper right arm (ca. 1/4" diameter). Chair worn where sitter rubs against chair (bottom and front of seat, and arms).
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
CAPTION
Charles Eames (American, 1907–1978). Armchair, Designed 1950; Manufactured ca. 1951. Fiberglass, plastic, wood, metal, Overall: 33 1/2 x 24 5/8 x 23 1/4 in. (85.1 x 62.5 x 59.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Roberts, 84.280. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 84.280.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 84.280.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2004
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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