Soft as a glove
Eames lounge chair and ottoman were conceived to provide welcoming comfort to the body.
Designed for living
When they were conceptualizing the chair, Charles explained that the designers wanted it to have the “warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt.” As Charles and Ray’s home provided the backdrop for the couple’s gracious hosting of a famously eclectic group of friends and associates, providing “a special refuge from the strains of modern living,” so too the lounge chair and ottoman were conceived to provide welcoming comfort to the body.
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman debuted on national television in 1956. Charles and Ray Eames appeared on the NBC television network Home show hosted by Arlene Francis. Stardom ensued for both design and designers. Yet, as popular as the lounge chair and ottoman have become, they remain grounded in the handcrafted details that continue to distinguish this classic, authentic design.
Embraced by the critics
Part of the permanent collections at New York’s MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago, the chair and ottoman have been the subject of documentary films and books; they were the sole subject of a museum show at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. They are featured prominently in television series and stylish movie interiors. Although the word “icon” is overused, it's exactly the right word in describing the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.
“A special refuge from the strains of modern living.”
