"Who would say that pleasure is not useful?" -Charles Eames

The Eames lounge chair is the culmination of Charles and Ray Eames' efforts to create comfortable and handsome lounge seating by using production techniques that combine technology and handcraftsmanship. Its heritage goes back to the molded plywood chairs pioneered by the Eameses in the 1940s. The Eames lounge chair is considered among the most significant and collectible furniture designs of the 20th century and is part of the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Charles Eames said his goal for the chair was the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." Every one is a special refuge from the strains of modern living.

The first lounge chair, produced in 1956, was a birthday gift for friend Billy Wilder, the Academy Award-winning film director, and it made its public debut on Arlene Francis' Home show, which later became the Today show.

With a grand sense of adventure, Charles and Ray Eames turned their curiosity and boundless enthusiasm into creations that established them as a truly great husband-and-wife design team. Their unique synergy led to a whole new look in furniture. Lean and modern. Playful and functional. Sleek, sophisticated, and beautifully simple. That was and is the "Eames look."

Every lounge chair manufactured since the original has received the same meticulous handcrafted attention. The rich veneer and supple leather suggest old-fashioned luxury translated into modern forms, setting an enduring standard for comfort and elegance.

The chair has 6-inch thick urethane foam cushions upholstered in leather or fabric in your choice of colors. The wood is harvested exclusively from sustainably managed forests and is available in a variety of finish options. This includes santos palisander, a lustrous veneer with the same color and grain characteristics as the iconic Brazilian Rosewood that was offered when the chair was first introduced in 1956.

For configurations in white ash, the metal components are complimented with white accents; all other veneers are complimented with black accents. All pieces are hand assembled with a built-in swivel mechanism.