We no longer present the mythical armchair "Lounge Chair " designed by Charles and Ray Eames....si? Come on, a little catch-up session, followed by our detailed advice on how not to get fooled when purchasing your Eames lounge chair.
The birth of the myth
"What if we modernized the traditional English club chair?" This question from Charles Eames marked the starting point for the creation of the famous "Lounge Chair ". Introduced in 1956, this model (whose official name is No. 670) with matching footrest, also known as "ottoman" (No. 671) is one of the most iconic models of the designer couple Charles Ray Eames. It is still manufactured by Herman Miller in the United States since it went into production in the 1950s and by Vitra in Europe since 1984. The "Lounge Chair" chair made its debut on American television in 1956. Charles and Ray Eames appeared with their chair on NBC's "NBC Home Show" at the time. The Lounge Chair is a leather chair upholstered with feathers and bultex foam and composed of a multi-layered structure of molded plywood, to provide a seat that is both sturdy and ultra comfortable. It has become a true icon of 20th century design, so much so that the object has become the benchmark of seating that every design lover must have in their home. A copy of the Lounge Chair has even been included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), that's saying something! 
One of the main reasons this chair is so comfortable is the way the seat is tilted back, so as to relieve the weight of the back and spine, and the reason it's called a "lounge." The original versions made by Herman Miller in the mid-1950s boasted "soft, supple leather pleats and soft feathers" similar to more traditional upholstered chairs. A first clue that a chair is a pale copy should jump out at you if it has a reclining back. Because on the real Lounge Chair, it must be fixed, without adjustment! If it comes with a variable reclining mechanism, it's not a genuine piece, but a copy.
1) Measure the chair and ottoman
Most contemporary copies of the Eames Lounge Chair do not match Herman Miller's original specifications. They are, in fact, usually taller and wider because the average height of the world's population has increased by 10 cm since the 1950s (this is also why Vitra has been offering wider dimensional models for the past few years, to better accommodate new generations of customers). An authentic old Lounge Chair will measure 840 mm in height (from the floor to the top of the headrest), while you can also find recent Vitra versions with the new dimensions, including measures 890 mm in height. The detail 
Source: Vitra
Discrepancies from these official dimensions may indicate that your chair is not authentic. However, some parts may have been restored, and small deviations in dimensions may have been introduced, without making it a pale copy. It may also be a recent, large Vitra version. Size is therefore not the only criterion to consider to authenticate it.
2) Look for a label
First look for a small plastic or paper label stuck to the underside of the seat. Either "Herman Miller", or "Mobilier International" (Herman Miller distributor in France in the 60s-70s), or "Vitra" (official European distributor since the 80s). We can also find "ICF" labels, Italian editor who had the Herman Miller license until the middle of the 80s. The labels vary from time to time, even within the same publisher, but here are some examples of common labels: 
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As an added bonus, the Lounge Chairs have all been branded with various types of additional paper labels. Here are some examples as well:
Some of the labels simply state that the chair was made by Herman Miller, others give more information. Sometimes paper labels are placed under a cushion if you can't find them under the seat.
3) Check finish details
However, these types of labels can be removed or can degrade and fall off over time. Upon closer inspection, other details may play a role in authentication. For example:
- There should be no visible screws in the 3 plywood sections forming the shell of the chair.
- Also count the number of layers of plywood used in the construction of the shells. The older chairs have only five layers, the newer ones have seven.
4) Look at the base
There are also some differences in the base when comparing a real Eames Lounge Chair with a copy. First, the base has a bit of an angle (rather than being very steep) and the legs are not flat. Often, copies have a base built with square legs that do not fit, simpler to build. Or, the legs may be steeply sloped. This is one of the most obvious features compared to an authentic Eames Lounge Chair. Also note that the ottoman (or footrest) should have 4 legs on the foot, not 5 like the seat. A difference often seen on copies.
5) Challenge the price
Herman Miller and Vitra currently offer the Lounge Chair Ottoman in a variety of leather colors with coordinating woods. One thing common to all of these chairs is the price. Depending on the materials selected, they sell new for between €4,500 and €6,000 including tax (chair alone, excluding shipping costs). The vintage models offer a lower price of 10 to 50n average, depending on models and state of conservation and / or restoration. Copies of the Eames Lounge Chair generally sell for between €500 and €2,000 new, and much less used. So, if you spot a chair for less than 4 500€, ask yourself some questions.....either it is second hand and in a bad state of conservation (to be restored), or it is a copy! You'll just have to make sure by checking the different elements indicated in this article to recognize the real from the fake!"
In conclusion
The mythical Lounge chair is deserved! If you want to treat yourself to this vintage design icon, it would be a shame to buy a copy at the price of a real one. And while the investment is significant, the satisfaction of sitting in it combined with the fact that your purchase will not lose value upon resale (and may even gain value) make it a sure bet. So, if you want to take the plunge and don't want to make a mistake in acquiring your future Lounge Chair, consult a specialized player such as Design Market to get all the necessary guarantees before your purchase and after your purchase. http://www.design-market.fr/19_eames" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"
