ICF - Charles & Ray Eames - Chair - EA117 - Aluminium, Textile





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Aluminium Office Chair EA 117 by Charles and Ray Eames, produced in Italy by ICF in the early 1980s, with a polished aluminium frame, grey Hopsak fabric, swivel base, wheels and adjustable height, in excellent condition.
Description from the seller
Work Architecture: Aluminium Chair EA 117 – Design Charles and Ray Eames – Produced by ICF (1980s)
We present at auction one of the milestones of global industrial design: the Aluminium Chair, model EA 117, in its most versatile office configuration, with swivel base, casters and height adjustment. Conceived in 1958, this chair revolutionized the architecture of work furniture, here offered in a historic and robust Italian production by ICF in polished aluminum and dark gray Hopsak fabric.
Design and History: The Tense and Transparent Structure
With the Aluminium Group, Charles and Ray Eames challenged the traditional concept of a padded armchair, introducing a radical structural innovation:
Tension as Comfort: With the rigid shell removed, the project is based on a continuous fabric panel stretched between two aluminum side profiles. The seat thus becomes an elastic and cushioned element that actively follows the body's contours.
Pure Visuality: The EA 117 shape is clean, light, and transparent. Every mechanical and structural component remains deliberately visible, celebrating the quality of the join and the geometric rigor of the design.
Polished Aluminum Finish: Unlike mirrored chrome versions, simply polished aluminum offers a natural, material, deep shine that enhances the craftsmanship quality of the finishes typical of the era's manufacture.
Lot Conditions: Conservation Status and Maintenance
- This original specimen, dating from the early 1980s, presents itself in excellent overall condition, carefully preserved to ensure immediate use:
- Structure and Metals: The polished aluminum casting is solid, robust, and fully intact. Surfaces retain their splendid original shine thanks to recent professional cleaning and polishing, showing only very light signs of wear in keeping with the piece's age.
- Hopsak Upholstery: The dark gray/black Hopsak fabric – famed for its tight weave and high resistance – is intact and stable. It has undergone a thorough cleaning and sanitization process; it is in excellent condition with only slight signs of use.
- Mechanics and Functions: The chair is fully functional in every component. The gas lift for height adjustment responds with precision and smoothness, the swivel movement is steady, and the casters roll correctly.
Dimensions
Width: 51 cm
Depth: 70 cm
Height: 83 cm
Seat height: adjustable from 43.5 cm to 55 cm
The Designers: Charles & Ray Eames
A duo emblematic of twentieth-century modernism, Charles and Ray Eames redefined the relationship between art, ergonomics, and mass production. Their experimental approach to materials yielded structural solutions that remain unsurpassed, able to traverse decades while maintaining their absolute visual and functional relevance.
The Producer: ICF (Industria Componenti per l'Arredamento)
Founded in Italy, ICF was for decades the official licensee for the production and distribution of the Aluminium Group on national soil. The manufacture has historically stood out for its excellent build standards and for faithful philological adherence to the original projects of the Eameses, making vintage pieces “made in Italy” highly sought after by collectors for their durability and quality of detailing.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes transport insurance in the indicated shipping costs.
Seller's Story
Work Architecture: Aluminium Chair EA 117 – Design Charles and Ray Eames – Produced by ICF (1980s)
We present at auction one of the milestones of global industrial design: the Aluminium Chair, model EA 117, in its most versatile office configuration, with swivel base, casters and height adjustment. Conceived in 1958, this chair revolutionized the architecture of work furniture, here offered in a historic and robust Italian production by ICF in polished aluminum and dark gray Hopsak fabric.
Design and History: The Tense and Transparent Structure
With the Aluminium Group, Charles and Ray Eames challenged the traditional concept of a padded armchair, introducing a radical structural innovation:
Tension as Comfort: With the rigid shell removed, the project is based on a continuous fabric panel stretched between two aluminum side profiles. The seat thus becomes an elastic and cushioned element that actively follows the body's contours.
Pure Visuality: The EA 117 shape is clean, light, and transparent. Every mechanical and structural component remains deliberately visible, celebrating the quality of the join and the geometric rigor of the design.
Polished Aluminum Finish: Unlike mirrored chrome versions, simply polished aluminum offers a natural, material, deep shine that enhances the craftsmanship quality of the finishes typical of the era's manufacture.
Lot Conditions: Conservation Status and Maintenance
- This original specimen, dating from the early 1980s, presents itself in excellent overall condition, carefully preserved to ensure immediate use:
- Structure and Metals: The polished aluminum casting is solid, robust, and fully intact. Surfaces retain their splendid original shine thanks to recent professional cleaning and polishing, showing only very light signs of wear in keeping with the piece's age.
- Hopsak Upholstery: The dark gray/black Hopsak fabric – famed for its tight weave and high resistance – is intact and stable. It has undergone a thorough cleaning and sanitization process; it is in excellent condition with only slight signs of use.
- Mechanics and Functions: The chair is fully functional in every component. The gas lift for height adjustment responds with precision and smoothness, the swivel movement is steady, and the casters roll correctly.
Dimensions
Width: 51 cm
Depth: 70 cm
Height: 83 cm
Seat height: adjustable from 43.5 cm to 55 cm
The Designers: Charles & Ray Eames
A duo emblematic of twentieth-century modernism, Charles and Ray Eames redefined the relationship between art, ergonomics, and mass production. Their experimental approach to materials yielded structural solutions that remain unsurpassed, able to traverse decades while maintaining their absolute visual and functional relevance.
The Producer: ICF (Industria Componenti per l'Arredamento)
Founded in Italy, ICF was for decades the official licensee for the production and distribution of the Aluminium Group on national soil. The manufacture has historically stood out for its excellent build standards and for faithful philological adherence to the original projects of the Eameses, making vintage pieces “made in Italy” highly sought after by collectors for their durability and quality of detailing.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes transport insurance in the indicated shipping costs.

