1960 Eames Lounge Chair

There’s perhaps no more recognizable moniker of mid-century modern furniture than the Eames chair, used, of course, to describe that ubiquitous leather-and-wood lounge that has been making its way into interiors since 1956. But the Eames lounger is just one of many iconic seats credited to the “first couple” of modern American design. Indeed, the name Eames is virtually synonymous with American mid-century seating — and for good reason.

Together, husband-and-wife duo Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) designed some of the most recognizable and enduring chairs not only of the 20th century but in all of American history.

The couple met in 1940 at the illustrious Cranbrook Academy of Art — which would become the go-to art school for the icons of mid-century modernism — where they befriended design luminaries Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia. Charles and Ray married afterward, then moved to Los Angeles in 1941. There, they embarked on a streak of design experimentation, resulting in a staggering output of furniture across a multitude of often quite experimental materials.

Central to one of their most groundbreaking material developments was the “Kazam!” machine, a handmade, bicycle-pump-operated apparatus for molding layers of plywood together. This method would prove the basis for some of the couple’s most recognizable seats, including their DCW and DCM dining chairs, both produced for Herman Miller, whose director of design, George Nelson, tapped Charles in 1946. This partnership would go on to be one of the most prolific in modern design history, with Eames furniture still topping best-seller lists for the manufacturer today. Although Ray was notably absent from that Herman Miller contract — as well as from many historic recognitions of her husband’s work — she and Charles were true partners, working collaboratively on nearly all design projects.

Never content with one medium, Charles and Ray would go on to experiment with fiberglass, a low-cost, easily manipulatable material that aligned with their belief in mass, accessible design. The couple dipped a toe in making virtually every type of furniture, including coffee tables, dining tables, desks and even their clever Eames storage units, given the moniker “working art” upon their 1949 debut at the Detroit Institute of Arts. A fitting label, indeed, for all of the couple’s furnishings, even if they’re best remembered for their chair designs.

The Eames molded fiberglass side chairs and armchairs were released through Herman Miller in 1950. Their efforts also extended to the workplace (where Herman Miller got its start): Their 1958 Executive chair remains a staple in offices around the globe.

Browse a vast selection of vintage Eames lounge chairs and other innovative and long-admired seating designed by the Eameses today on 1stDibs.

While this specific seating is known to all for its comfort and familiar form, the history of how your favorite antique or vintage lounge chair came to be is slightly more ambiguous.

Although there are rare armchairs dating back as far as the 17th century, some believe that the origins of the first official “lounge chair” are tied to Hungarian modernist designer-architect Marcel Breuer. Sure, Breuer wasn’t exactly reinventing the wheel when he introduced the Wassily lounge chair in 1925, but his seat was indeed revolutionary for its integration of bent tubular steel.

Officially, a lounge chair is simply defined as a “comfortable armchair,” which allows for the shape and material of the furnishings to be extremely diverse. Whether or not chaise longues make the cut for this category is a matter of frequent debate.

The Eames lounge chair, on the other hand, has come to define somewhat of a universal perception of what a lounge chair can be. Introduced in 1956, the Eames lounger (and its partner in cozy, the ottoman) quickly became staples in television shows, prestigious office buildings and sumptuous living rooms. Venerable American mid-century modern designers Charles and Ray Eames intended for it to be the peak of luxury, which they knew meant taking furniture to the next level of style and comfort. Their chair inspired many modern interpretations of the lounge — as well as numerous copies.

On 1stDibs, find a broad range of unique lounge chairs that includes everything from antique Victorian-era seating to vintage mid-century modern lounge chairs by craftspersons such as Hans Wegner to contemporary choices from today’s innovative designers.