Vintage Furniture – Real or Fake? Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman September 14, 2008
Posted by jetsetrnv8r in Furniture Collecting.Tags: authentic vintage, barcelona chair, charles and ray eames, collecting vintage furniture, corbusier lc, Eames lounge 670, eames lounge and ottoman, herman miller, knock-off, noguchi coffee table, plycraft, real or fake
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The Real McCoy - Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671)
In this installment of “Real or Fake?” we’ll discuss the ever-popular and often imitated Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman, officially known as the Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671). Designed by the remarkable and prolific husband and wife team of modernist architects and designers, Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, this chair was introduced to the public on NBC’s morning show, the Arlene Francis Home Show (which later became The Today Show) and was an instant hit. (Don’t miss the extraordinary 2-part video here.) It’s been in constant production ever since by U.S. licensee Herman Miller of Zeeland Michigan and European licensee Vitra.
It’s also one of the most popularly copied pieces and I defy anyone to find a furniture store anywhere in the world that doesn’t sell a version of this chair. Some copies even have their own fans – an unlicensed knockoff from Plycraft by George Mulhauser is considered by many to be superior in both quality and comfort to the real thing and can be had at substantial savings. It’s said to be more ergonomic for today’s larger American frames.
So if you’re in the market for an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, how do you know if you’re getting the real thing? If you’re buying new, it’s easy. Buy from a Herman Miller dealer or look for the Herman Miller label on the underside of the chair shell. Prices start at about $3,500 for the cherry or walnut versions. A 50th anniversary chair in santos palisander rosewood starts at about $4,500. Authentic vintage chairs get that much or more, and an earlier limited edition model in rosewood has been known to fetch as much as $7,000 at auction. (UPDATE: A vintage rosewood chair and ottoman just got $3,120 at the October 7, 2008 Modern Design auction at Wright Auctions of Chicago. Pre-auction estimates put it at $3,000 to $4,000 – obviously a sign of the times given the world economic crisis. Read about it here.)
But if you’re buying vintage, first look for the label on the underside which looks like this:
If there’s no visible label, how do you know you’re getting the real thing? Here’s some other visual cues to look for:
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Shell of cherry, walnut, santos palisander or rosewood. Any others are likely fakes.
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Look for six-inch thick urethane foam cushions with soft leather upholstery.
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The chair will have a five-legged base (”five-star”) and the ottoman four. Legs rise at a slight angle – they are not flat nor do they rise too steeply creating a “cone” effect.
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Look for die-cast aluminum back braces – not square tubular aluminum.
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The bases are also die-cast and painted black with polished aluminum trim.
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Some copies have a loose cap over the base to hide rough welds or bolts where the legs meet the post.
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Natural rubber shock mounts and adjustable stainless steel glides.
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Armrests are curved, not flat.
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Look at the leather upholstery on the armrest. Fakes often have a single piece of leather wrapped around the edge. Authentic models have a separate piece of leather welting wrapped around the edge.
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The ottoman is the exact same size as the seat of the chair. In fact, the cushions are interchangeable.
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Most copies recline, an authentic chair does not.
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There should be absolutely no visible screws or bolts. None.
This fake has a five-legged ottoman and the legs of both chair and ottoman rise at too steep an angle. Otherwise it’s pretty darn close.
This copy has a four-legged chair, flat legs, flat armrests and a smaller ottoman.
Visible screws are an instant dead give-away. This one is a cheap copy.
Flat arms with a single piece of leather wrapped around the edges instead of a second piece of welting is a no-no.
If you’ve got Taittinger taste on a Schlitz budget, look for a knock-off from Plycraft. They generally start at around $1,200 and with a steady demand for them, they’ll hold their value almost as well as the authentic Herman Miller version. You might even find it to be more comfortable. (But don’t tell anyone I said that!)
Read about the latest auction results for a vintage Eames Lounge Chair 670 and Ottoman 671 here.
Don’t miss my postings on how to tell a real from a fake Le Corbusier LC series chair, a Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chair and a Noguchi coffee table. See recent auction results and trends on vintage furniture from Eames and other designers here. You can also learn the smart way to buy quality furniture whether you’re staging a house for sale or collecting for your own home here.
I bought an Eames Lounge and Ottoman during the anniversary period so I got it in white and aluminum with a stamp at the bottom. I also bought it from this website, officedesigns.com, and they’re authorized dealers and carry more of Herman Miller stuff than any other website I’ve seen. That’s how I know mine’s real.
Good job, Jackson E. Sounds like you did your homework. Congratulations on a smart purchase.
Is there a consistent way to distinguish the real Herman Miller Eames Lounger against the knock offs of today? The cues listed in the article seem valid for vintage items, but the “Made in China” versions of today look like the real deal aside from some slight measurement variations.
Rich – If you’re worried about newly-made knock-offs, the first thing to look for is the label. And if you’re worried that it may be a counterfeit label (and I’m not aware of anyone going that far) then make sure you’re buying from a reputable dealer – a Herman Miller store or Design Within Reach or another trustworthy retail chain. If you’re buying from a private party, they should allow you to take the chair to a Herman Miller dealer for verification. If none of these tactics are available to you and you’re still in doubt, check the proportions and workmanship carefully – the number and shape of the legs, the shape of the arms, the quality of the leather, the ratio of the seat cushion to the ottoman cushion (1:1 and interchangeable), the angle of the chair (fixed at 15%,). If all those are a match, I’d say you can pretty much rest assured you’re getting the real thing. If in doubt, walk away. There are enough authentic chairs out there that you don’t need to settle for something dubious.
was there actually a white and black version of the eames lounge chair ever produced? I’ve seen many offerings of “original” eames lounge chair totally in black of white (even the wood). They say it’s a original, but i cannot find documentation of these version.
Thanks for the help.
Ronald
Hello Ronald – Authentic Eames lounge chairs have been offered and are still available in dozens of different leathers, including white. But I can say with absolute certainty that the wood shell has never, ever been painted white or black or anything other than a choice of natural wood finishes. That’s not to say that someone may have painted a chair afterwards – but it has never been offered that way from Herman Miller. If you’re seeing a chair with a painted finish, check for all the other tell-tale signs to see if it may still be an authentic chair that’s been modified.
In any event, I would not recommend buying it as it would cost more to refinish than the chair would ever be worth since it would no longer be in its original condition. Unless, of course, you find out it was an experimental chair owned by the Eames’ themselves – then it would be a pricesless treasure. But I’m not aware of anything like this existing.
If you have a picture, please forward it to me as I’d be curious to see it. I may be able to tell you if it’s otherwise authentic or not.
Hope this helps. – JetSetRnv8r
I have a copy of the Eames chair made by ‘Selig’. It is in very good condition,but I have no idea how old it is or if it would have any value. Are Selig’s decent knockoffs? When were they made?
Is there a difference in manufacturing process or materials used between the chairs produced by Herman Miller in the US and those made by Vitra for the European market?
I’m asking because Vitra models cost a lot more than the Herman Miller ones (almost double at current exchange rates). In fact, it actually seems cheaper to buy one in the US and ship it to Europe.
Thanks!
Fabien
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Thanks for your site. I’m baffled. My Dad recently gave me his ‘Miller’ chair that he bought new from a reputable department store in 1964 in Zurich Switzerland. After researching, it looks like it must be a fake. It has visible bolts where the rubber shockers should be, five legs on the ottoman, one piece of leather on the armrests and it’s a pressed metal plate where it connects to the base of the chair. I’m wondering if the Vitra chairs were made exactly the same as the Miller ones. I am hoping that somehow it is still original even though it appears not. I am planning on contacting the store in Zurich to see if they can shed further light.
I can send pictures if you like
cheers
Martin
There is another way to tell if what you are buying is vintage: the vintage (rosewood) shells have five layers of plywood, and the newer (Santos rosewood, walnut, cherry) versions have seven layers. The older sets may also have “Dome of Silence” in raised printing on the hard rubber spacers on the leveling screws under the base of both the chair and ottoman. These were discontinued only recently; I have a cherry set from 1996 and the chair and ottoman both came with these older “vintage” spacers. On the really really old sets, the aluminum mounts attached to the headrest and back of the chair were made of hard rubber and not plastic. There’s probably more…
Thanks for your helpful information on these chairs! I was easily able to identify my chairs were Plycraft after reading your postings. Good to hear that even the knock offs hold some value.
Dan
I had thought that the older versions had feathers or down in the cushions and the new ones foam? In terms of comfort, if I’m going to by an authentic eames lounge chair, am I better buying new or vintage, or where they all in fact made with the same filling?
Hello, I have one chair which is (I took this info from bottom labels) Plycraft Inc. designed by George Mulhauser. I was starting to find out something about this chair, because two screws from hardware are missing. I’m contractor and this chair I’m took from my job (demolition place, because this chair should to go to garbage!) on Manhattan, where we start new job.
But I’m not sure that, this is thing from right place. And I can’t find anywhere any info about this model of chair, including value. I did pictures of this chair which I can send to show.
One thing I have to say, this chair is really so comfortable and made very good.
Can You help me with that?!
Slawek.
Theres been some very close knock offs but any chair base with a spring box on the bottom of the seat would be the defining clue,in the China versions the roughness in the cast parts and the too squared edges of the wood pieces would be a tip off.Herman Millers quality is very high so look for that in your chair, as the old saying goes, ” If in doubt,walk away”
I recently bought a Lounge Chair of exact look as per your description of an Eame’s lounge chair. There are two lables, the round one said Designed by George Nelson (Gold colour sticker), the other one is pretty much the same. Both of the lable indicate the chair is a Herman Miller. Do you ever see this configuration? Thank you.
Wayne
I have a knockoff that has a one piece backrest, 4 leg bases, and spring-tensioned mount by “faultless doerner waterloo ontario canada”. It seems to be well made. Any ideas at all? I could email an image if you’re willing to look.
My brother in law has this exact fiece and I fell asleep in it at Christmas. It might be pricey but it’ll last a lifetime and is timeless!
I am selling a Eames era lounge/ottoman set from an Estate. It looks like a Plycraft and is in very good condition, but has no labels. Is there any way I can be sure it is a Plycraft? The wood on the back looks like either mahogany or cherry. Do you know what kind of wood Plycraft used? If you send me your email, I will send you a picture. I have tried attaching the craigs list ad where you can see a picture. I am lowering the price tomorrow.
Hello.
Concerning the non existence of a painted wood finish, I did find this interesting information on the Vitra website:
http://www.vitra.com/en-pt/home/products/lounge-chair-ottoman/detail/
Check out the “black base with polished aluminium detail, shell cherry black lacquered”.
TheMonk