Few chairs get donated to a museum while still being sold in stores. The Eames Lounge Chair is one of them.
Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956 and produced by Herman Miller ever since, this molded plywood and leather lounge chair has held its place in both living rooms and MoMA’s permanent collection for nearly 70 years.
If you’re trying to understand what it actually is, what it costs, how to spot a real one, or whether it belongs in your space, this article covers all of it.
What Is an Eames Lounge Chair
The Eames Lounge Chair is a high-end residential lounge chair and matching ottoman designed by Charles and Ray Eames, produced by Herman Miller since 1956. Officially designated as model 670 (chair) and model 671 (ottoman), it is built from molded plywood shells wrapped in genuine leather cushions and mounted on a five-star die-cast aluminum base.
It was the first chair the Eameses designed specifically for the high-end market. Every piece before it was aimed at affordable, mass-market production.
The chair features three separate curved plywood shells: the headrest, the backrest, and the seat. Rubber shock mounts connect the shells, allowing each section to flex independently with the weight of the user.
The set has been in continuous production since its debut, assembled almost entirely by hand at Herman Miller’s factory in Zeeland, Michigan. Nearly 70 years of uninterrupted production with no major redesigns is a rare thing in furniture.
A 1956 rosewood version sits in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, donated by Herman Miller in 1960.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official model numbers | Lounge 670 / Ottoman 671 |
| Year introduced | 1956 |
| Manufacturer (U.S.) | Herman Miller |
| Manufacturer (Europe) | Vitra |
| Shell construction | 7-ply molded plywood |
| Base | Five-star die-cast aluminum |
| Cushion fill | Down and high-density urethane foam |
Ray Eames once described it as “comfortable and un-designy.” That tension between restraint and comfort is exactly what made it last.
Who Designed the Eames Lounge Chair
Charles Eames (1907-1978) and Ray Kaiser Eames (1912-1988) were a husband-and-wife design team based in Venice, California. They met at the Cranbrook Academy of Art near Detroit, where Charles taught architecture alongside Eero Saarinen.
Their background was broad. Architecture, film, exhibition design, graphic work, toys. Furniture was one part of a much larger practice.
Their Work with Plywood
The plywood experiments started early. During World War II, the Eameses developed molded plywood leg splints for wounded soldiers, which gave them years of hands-on experience with bending and bonding wood under heat and pressure.
That process fed directly into their postwar furniture work. The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (LCW), the DCW dining chair, and others all came from that same body of research.
By the mid-1950s, they had mastered the material well enough to apply it to something more ambitious: a luxury lounge chair that used plywood in a way no one had tried before.
Herman Miller and the Partnership
The Eameses joined Herman Miller in the 1940s. That relationship gave them access to manufacturing infrastructure and a distribution network that most designers at the time simply did not have.
Herman Miller remains the sole authorized U.S. producer of the Eames Lounge Chair to this day. Vitra holds the equivalent license for Europe and other markets outside North America.
The second chair off the production line was gifted to Hollywood director Billy Wilder, a close friend of the Eameses. Reportedly, the idea for the chair came partly from watching Wilder try to get comfortable on film sets between takes.
When Was the Eames Lounge Chair Made
The Eames Lounge Chair debuted on January 20, 1956, on NBC’s daytime television program “Home,” hosted by Arlene Francis. Charles and Ray Eames appeared on air alongside the chair, and Francis called it “quite a departure” from their earlier designs.
The chair had been years in development. Roots in plywood experimentation at the Eames Office stretched back to collaborations with Don Albinson and Harry Bertoia in the 1940s.
How the Design Changed Over Decades
The original 1956 model used five-ply Brazilian rosewood veneer shells. That continued through the very early 1990s, when Brazilian rosewood was placed under conservation restrictions and discontinued.
Current production uses seven plywood layers, which are slightly thinner individually but stronger overall. Veneer options today include walnut, cherry, white ash, white oak, and santos palisander, a sustainably grown wood with a grain pattern similar to the original Brazilian rosewood.
| Period | Shell Layers | Veneer |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 – early 1990s | 5-ply | Brazilian rosewood |
| Early 1990s – present | 7-ply | Walnut, palisander, cherry, ash, oak |
| 2008 onward | 7-ply | Same, plus tall/XL size added |
| 2006 (50th anniversary) | 7-ply | Sustainable palisander rosewood |
In 2008, Herman Miller and Vitra both released a taller version (called “XL” in Europe) to accommodate taller users. That version remains available alongside the standard size.
Labels on the underside of the chair have changed several times. The 1956 original had a silver circular medallion reading “designed by Charles Eames” and “Herman Miller Zeeland Mich.” Later decades brought black oblong labels, then silver oblong, then the curved embossed medallion used today.
What Materials Make Up the Eames Lounge Chair
The Eames Lounge Chair is built from 20 major components. That number is surprisingly low for a chair of this construction complexity and is part of what makes it repairable. Any individual part can be replaced without dismantling the whole.
The Plywood Shells
Three curved shells form the structure: headrest, backrest, and seat. Each is made from seven layers of plywood glued together and shaped under heat and pressure.
Seven plies is specific. Fewer layers and the shell warps under body weight. More layers and it becomes too rigid, losing the slight flex that contributes to the chair’s comfort. The Eameses landed on seven for a reason.
The outer surface of each shell carries a wood veneer, matched from a single log so the grain flows consistently across all three pieces. Cheap replicas almost always fail this test. Mismatched grain across the shells is a reliable indicator of a non-authentic piece.
Cushions, Shock Mounts, and Base
Shock mounts are the signature structural detail of this chair. These rubber discs sit between the aluminum posts and the plywood shells, allowing each shell to flex independently rather than moving as a rigid unit. Early models used threaded rubber mounts. Later versions switched to a neoprene plastic compound.
The cushions are filled with high-density urethane foam over a down layer, then hand-sewn in genuine leather. They snap on and off for cleaning. Each seat cushion is set at a 15-degree permanent recline angle, calculated to relieve pressure from the base of the spine.
The five-star base is die-cast aluminum, not steel or aluminum-plated steel. The difference in weight and feel is noticeable immediately. Herman Miller’s and Vitra’s versions differ slightly in the feet, but both use the same die-casting process and materials.
How Much Does an Eames Lounge Chair Cost
An authentic Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair with ottoman currently starts at around $5,495 for wool upholstery versions and rises to $6,500-$8,000 or more for leather configurations, based on 2025 pricing. Eames Office pricing for the same chair starts at $5,995.
That is roughly 17 times the original 1956 retail price. According to a Washington Post report, the set originally sold for $310, equivalent to around $3,100 today.
Authentic vs. Secondary Market
Vintage and pre-owned originals trade at a wide range. On 1stDibs, the average selling price for a Herman Miller Eames lounge chair and ottoman is around $6,000, with some early rosewood examples listed above $19,000 and more accessible pieces from the 1970s-80s starting near $1,500.
The Herman Miller Certified Pre-Owned program offers inspected and refurbished pieces at lower prices than new, with documented provenance. Chairish and Wright Auction House are reputable secondary-market platforms for verified vintage examples.
Replica Pricing
Replica versions are legal to sell and buy in most markets, provided they are not marketed as authentic Eames chairs.
- Budget replicas ($300-$600): Usually particleboard or fewer-ply shells, bonded leather, no proper shock mounts
- Mid-range replicas ($700-$1,200): 7-ply shells, top-grain leather, die-cast aluminum base, functional shock mounts
- High-end replicas ($1,200-$1,800): Closest to original specifications, multiple veneer options, full-grain leather
One industry estimate suggests replicas account for approximately 75% of Eames lounge chair transactions globally. That figure reflects both the chair’s popularity and the significant price barrier of the authentic version.
How to Tell If an Eames Lounge Chair Is Authentic
The Eameses themselves ran full-page newspaper ads warning about counterfeits as early as 1962. The problem has not gone away. Knowing what to look for matters, especially when buying used.
Label and Medallion Verification
Check the underside of the seat shell. Every authentic Herman Miller Eames chair carries a label or medallion. The style depends on the production era.
- 1956 original: silver/white circular medallion, “designed by Charles Eames” and “Herman Miller Zeeland Mich”
- 1970s-1980s: black oblong label
- 1990s-2000s: silver oblong label
- 2000s-present: curved embossed medallion
Vitra chairs carry equivalent Vitra labeling for European-market pieces. A chair with no label, or a label that does not match the claimed production era, warrants serious scrutiny.
Physical Construction Checks
Authentic Eames chairs do not recline. They flex. The shock mounts give the back a subtle give that adjusts with the user’s weight. If a chair has a reclining mechanism, it is not authentic.
Shell veneer grain on all three panels should match, cut from the same log. The shells should feel solid but with a slight flex, not rigid and not loose. Run your hand along the seam edge of the shell: you can physically count the plywood layers. Seven layers on modern pieces.
The aluminum base legs should feel heavy and substantial. End caps are round, not square. Glides on the feet of authentic pieces say “Domes of Silence” on older models. Modern Herman Miller versions use adjustable glides without that marking.
The armrests on the chair connect the bottom and middle shells. The only exposed screws on the entire chair are at the armrests. Every other connection is internal. If you see hardware anywhere else, something has been replaced or it is not authentic.
When in doubt, buy from an authorized dealer or a reputable vintage furniture specialist with clear provenance documentation. A chair without a paper trail is a risk.
Eames Lounge Chair Dimensions and Sizing
The standard Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman come in two sizes. Most buyers get the standard. Taller buyers often regret not getting the tall version after the fact.
| Measurement | Standard | Tall |
|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 31.5″ | 33.25″ |
| Width | 32.75″ | 32.75″ |
| Depth | 35″ | 37.75″ |
| Seat height | 16″ | 16.5″ |
| Seat depth | 21.25″ | 23.25″ |
The ottoman dimensions stay the same regardless of which chair size you choose: 21.5″ deep, 26″ wide, 17.25″ high. A useful detail that most product pages bury.
The tall version was developed by Herman Miller and the Eames Office in 2008 after noting that the average human height had increased by roughly one inch since 1956. That is a small but real ergonomic gap for a chair designed around body proportions.
Who Should Choose the Tall Version
At 5’10” or under, the standard fits well for most people. The seat height of 15-16 inches places you in a relaxed, slightly reclined position that the 15-degree tilt was designed to support.
At 6’0″ and above, the standard can feel short across the back and through the seat depth. The tall version adds 2 inches to the backrest and roughly 2 inches to seat depth, which changes the shoulder support substantially.
One practical note: allow at least 3 feet of floor clearance around the chair for the swivel to function without obstruction. Add 2 feet in front for the ottoman.
Weight and Footprint Planning
The chair weighs approximately 55 lbs. The ottoman adds another 20-25 lbs. Not something you’ll want to move frequently.
Total floor footprint when the ottoman is positioned in front: roughly 55″ deep by 33″ wide. That is a significant commitment in a smaller room. In space planning, this chair needs to be treated as an anchor piece, not an afterthought.
What Makes the Eames Lounge Chair a Design Classic
The chair has been in the MoMA permanent collection since 1960, when Herman Miller donated the original 1956 rosewood set. The Art Institute of Chicago also holds it. The Museum of Arts and Design in New York dedicated a solo exhibition to it.
That is not typical for a chair you can still buy new.
Critical and Cultural Standing
In 1973, MoMA curator Arthur Drexler wrote in a solo exhibition catalogue that the Eames chair was “the only design to attempt a lounge chair which would surpass in comfort anything an English club chair can offer.” That quote is still repeated because it is still accurate.
Appearances in television and film span decades and genres. The chair appeared in the TV series Frasier, Mad Men, and Iron Man, among dozens of others. Herman Miller has received 23 consecutive Most Admired Company Awards from Fortune Magazine, and the Eames lounge chair is central to that design legacy.
Eames Office work appeared in 24 separate MoMA shows between 1941 and 1959, well before the lounge chair existed. By the time model 670 launched, Charles and Ray Eames were already known to the museum-going public.
Why the Design Has Not Changed
Most furniture goes through significant redesigns every decade. The Eames Lounge Chair has not. The core geometry, the three-shell structure, the shock mount system, the 15-degree fixed tilt, the five-star aluminum base, all remain as designed in 1956.
That consistency is part of what gives the chair its status. It is not a nostalgic object. It is still in production because nothing better has replaced it in its category.
Interior designer Hubert Zandberg, who has sat in his Eames lounge daily for over 20 years, described it plainly: “Form never quite followed function in such a perfect way.” That is a hard standard to argue with when the chair is nearly 70 years old and still selling.
The mid-century modern design era produced many iconic pieces, but very few have maintained both active production and museum placement simultaneously. The Eames lounge chair is one of the few that did both without compromise.
Eames Lounge Chair vs. Common Alternatives
No other lounge chair occupies exactly the same position. But there are worthwhile comparisons to make, depending on what you are actually looking for.
| Chair | Style | Comfort Priority | Price Point (2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eames Lounge (Herman Miller) | Mid-century modern | High | $7,800+ | Residential, executive spaces |
| Barcelona Chair (Knoll) | Modernist/formal | Medium | $8,200+ | Architectural, formal settings |
| Hans Wegner Shell Chair | Danish modern | Medium-high | $4,900+ | Compact spaces, dining areas |
| Knoll Womb Chair | Organic modern | Very high | $7,500+ | Casual, enveloping comfort |
| Burrow Vesper | Contemporary | Medium | $800+ | Budget-conscious modern buyers |
vs. Barcelona Chair
The Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich is often placed alongside the Eames lounge as the other great 20th-century lounge chair.
Key difference: the Barcelona prioritizes formal elegance and architectural presence. It sits upright, works well in corporate lobbies and formal living rooms, and pairs with rigid, structured interiors. The Eames lounge is comfort-forward and residential.
Both use leather and steel, both have matching ottomans, and both are manufactured under license with authorized producers. But they are genuinely different chairs for different situations. Putting a Barcelona chair in a reading nook is an odd choice. An Eames lounge in a modernist boardroom is equally odd.
vs. High-End Replicas and Alternatives
The Burrow Vesper draws from both the Eames Lounge and Knoll’s Womb Chair in its design. It ships flat-packed, retails around $1,200-$1,600, and uses bent plywood with leather or fabric upholstery.
What you give up: the die-cast aluminum base, the authentic shock mount system, Herman Miller’s 12-year warranty, and documented provenance. For a buyer who wants the visual effect in a secondary space or rental, the trade-off can make sense.
For buyers who want something closer to the Eames aesthetic without the Eames price, mid-century modern furniture designers produced a number of contemporaries worth considering. Hans Wegner’s CH07 Shell Chair, for instance, offers a different take on molded plywood comfort at a lower price point, with its own legitimate design heritage.
Where to Buy an Eames Lounge Chair
Buying from the wrong source is a real risk. The chair is one of the most counterfeited pieces of furniture in history, and the secondary market has enough genuine pieces mixed with convincing fakes to make caution worthwhile.
Authorized New Purchases
Herman Miller is the only authorized U.S. producer. Purchases through Herman Miller directly or through authorized dealers come with a 12-year warranty, documented authenticity, and access to replacement parts as needed. Design Within Reach (a Herman Miller brand) also carries the chair with full authorization.
Eames Office sells the chair directly at eamesoffice.com, starting at $5,995, with a wider range of upholstery options including Maharam fabrics and plant-based materials.
MoMA Design Store carries an exclusive cherry wood veneer version, the only retail configuration where cherry is available separately from other Herman Miller channels.
Verified Secondary Market
Chairish, 1stDibs, and Wright Auction House are the three most reputable platforms for authenticated vintage Eames lounge chairs. Each has different buyer protections and return policies, so read carefully before purchasing.
- 1stDibs: Average resale price around $6,000, with early rosewood examples going significantly higher
- Chairish: More accessible price points, good for 1970s-1990s pieces in solid condition
- Wright: Chicago-based auction house specializing in 20th-century design; strong provenance documentation
The Herman Miller Certified Pre-Owned program offers inspected, reconditioned pieces with documentation. Worth checking before buying from an unknown private seller.
What to Avoid
Private sellers on general marketplaces without documentation, chairs with no label or a label that does not match the described era, and any seller unwilling to provide detailed photos of the underside of the seat shell.
A chair described as “authentic Eames” or “genuine Herman Miller” without a label, clear provenance, or verifiable purchase history deserves serious scrutiny. Labels can be transferred from other pieces. Construction quality, veneer grain matching, and shock mount condition are harder to fake convincingly.
If the price seems too low for what is being described as authentic, it usually is. A legitimate 1970s Herman Miller piece in good condition rarely sells below $1,500, even from private sellers. Anything much below that warrants a closer look before committing.
FAQ on What Is An Eames Lounge Chair
What is an Eames Lounge Chair?
The Eames Lounge Chair is a high-end residential lounge chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956. It features three molded plywood shells, genuine leather cushions, rubber shock mounts, and a five-star die-cast aluminum swivel base. Herman Miller produces it in the U.S.
Who made the Eames Lounge Chair?
Charles and Ray Eames designed it. Herman Miller has been the authorized U.S. manufacturer since 1956. Vitra holds the equivalent license for Europe. No other company can legally attach the Eames name to this design.
How much does an Eames Lounge Chair cost?
A new authentic Herman Miller version starts at around $5,495 and rises to $8,000 or more depending on veneer and upholstery. Verified vintage pieces on 1stDibs average around $6,000. Quality replicas range from $500 to $1,800.
Is the Eames Lounge Chair worth the money?
For buyers who keep furniture long-term, yes. The chair holds resale value well, improves with age, and carries a 12-year Herman Miller warranty. Authentic pieces from the 1970s still sell for $1,500 or more on the secondary market.
What is the difference between the standard and tall Eames Lounge Chair?
The tall version adds roughly 2 inches to the backrest height and seat depth. Herman Miller developed it in 2008 for users over 6 feet. Both sizes use the same ottoman dimensions. The standard fits most people under 5’10”.
How do I know if my Eames Lounge Chair is authentic?
Check the underside of the seat shell for a Herman Miller or Vitra label matching the production era. Authentic chairs do not recline. They flex via rubber shock mounts. Veneer grain should match across all three shells. Exposed screws appear only at the armrests.
What materials is the Eames Lounge Chair made from?
The shells are seven-ply molded plywood with a wood veneer finish. Cushions use high-density urethane foam and genuine leather, hand-sewn and button-tufted. The base is die-cast aluminum. Rubber shock mounts connect the shells to the frame.
Is the Eames Lounge Chair comfortable?
Yes. The fixed 15-degree recline relieves pressure from the lower spine. Shock mounts allow each shell to flex independently with body weight. Down and foam cushion fill adds softness. Charles Eames described the goal as the feel of a well-worn baseball glove.
Where can I buy an authentic Eames Lounge Chair?
Through Herman Miller directly, Design Within Reach, Eames Office, or MoMA Design Store for new pieces. For verified vintage, use 1stDibs, Chairish, or Wright Auction House. The Herman Miller Certified Pre-Owned program is also a reliable option.
Why is the Eames Lounge Chair considered a design classic?
It has been in MoMA’s permanent collection since 1960. It has been in continuous production for nearly 70 years with no major redesigns. It appears in major film and television, and MoMA dedicated a solo exhibition to it. Few chairs achieve all three.
Conclusion
This conclusion is for an article presenting what is an Eames Lounge Chair, a piece that has managed something genuinely rare: staying in active production and museum collections simultaneously for nearly 70 years.
The molded plywood shell construction, the rubber shock mounts, the fixed 15-degree recline, the die-cast aluminum base. None of it is accidental.
Whether you are considering the authentic Herman Miller model 670, a verified vintage piece from Chairish or Wright Auction House, or a quality replica with seven-ply construction, knowing what separates a real Eames from a copy matters before spending.
Santos palisander veneer, matched grain across all three shells, and a label that checks out. Those details tell the story.
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