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

Work Architecture: Aluminium Chair EA 117 – Design Charles and Ray Eames – Production ICF (70s/80s)

We present at auction one of the milestones of global industrial design: the Aluminium Chair, model EA 117, in its most versatile office configuration, equipped with a swivel base, casters and height adjustment. Conceived in 1958, this chair revolutionized the architecture of workplace furnishings, here offered in a historic and robust Italian ICF production in polished aluminium and dark grey Hopsak fabric.

Design and History: The Tense and Transparent Structure
With the Aluminium Group, Charles and Ray Eames disrupted the traditional concept of an upholstered armchair, introducing a radical structural innovation:

Tension as Comfort: With the rigid shell eliminated, the design relies on a continuous panel of fabric stretched between two aluminum side profiles. The seat thus becomes a elastic, cushioning element that actively follows the contours of the body.

Visual Purity: 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 mirror-polished chrome versions, the simply polished aluminum offers a natural, material, deep sheen that highlights the artisanal quality of the finishes typical of the era's craftsmanship.

Lot Conditions: Conservation State and Maintenance
- This original specimen, dating from the early 1980s, presents in excellent general condition, carefully preserved to ensure immediate use:
- Structure and Metals: The polished aluminum casting is solid, robust and fully intact. Surfaces maintain their splendid original shine thanks to a recent professional cleaning and polishing, showing only very slight signs of age consistent with the piece's age.
- Upholstery in Hopsak: The dark grey/black Hopsak fabric – renowned for its tight weave and very high durability – is intact and stable. It has undergone meticulous cleaning and thorough sanitization; it is in excellent condition with only light signs of use.
- Mechanics and Functions: The chair is fully functional in every component. The gas lift for height adjustment responds with precision and fluidity, the swivel movement is steady, and the casters roll properly.

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 pair symbolic 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, capable of spanning decades while preserving their absolute visual and functional current relevance.

The Manufacturer: 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 the national territory. The manufacture historically stood out for its excellence in construction standards and for philological fidelity to the original projects of the Eameses, making vintage pieces “made in Italy” highly sought after by collectors for their durability and attention to detail.

Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes insurance for transport in the stated shipping costs.