ICF - Charles Eames, Ray Eames - Office chair - EA108 - Aluminium, Leather

Structural Rigour: Aluminium Chair EA 108 Swivel – Design by Charles and Ray Eames – Production ICF (1980s)

We present at auction one of the highest expressions of American modernism and global industrial design: the Aluminium Chair, model EA 108, in its swivel-base configuration with arms. Conceived in 1958, this seating represents one of the great design successes of the 20th century, here offered in a prestigious and sought-after vintage production by the Italian ICF, finished in polished aluminum and premium black leather.

Design and History: The Revolution of the Suspended Seat
The Aluminium Group line was initially created to furnish the outdoor spaces of the private residence of the renowned art collector J. Irwin Miller in Columbus, Indiana, overturning the construction norms of the period:

The Self-Supporting Panel: Charles and Ray Eames definitively abandoned the concept of a closed-shell or monobloc seat. The project is based on a brilliant engineering intuition: to tension a continuous sheet of leather between two aluminum side profiles, transforming the covering itself into an elastic structural element.

Natural Ergonomics: Even without complex, heavy padding, the chair dynamically adapts to the lines and weight of the human body, offering postural comfort and a flexibility that remains unrivaled.

Purity of Lines: The EA 108 model stands out for its mid-height backrest and the sinuous geometric arms. The chair’s visual transparency makes this small armchair a versatile, absolutely elegant piece, ideal for well-appointed meeting rooms, executive offices, or refined domestic settings.

Condition of the Lot: Conservation State and Maintenance
- This original exemplar, dating from the 1980s, comes from the historic Italian manufacture ICF and is presented in excellent general condition:
- Frame and Metals: The polished aluminum frame and the characteristic 5-spoke swivel base (with fixed foot ends) are perfectly solid, robust, and stable. The metal retains its natural material sheen, showing only minimal and normal signs of time consistent with the object's age.
- Black Leather Upholstery: The premium black leather covering is structurally intact, well tensioned, and free of cuts or tears. The surface has been carefully cleaned, sanitized, and professionally hydrated with specific nourishing products, which have revived its softness and the depth of the original color, showing only slight and charming traces of use.
- Mechanics: The swivel movement on the central pin is smooth, steady, and free of structural play.

Dimensions
Width: 58 cm
Depth: 59 cm
Height: 83 cm
Seat height: 40 cm

The Designers: Charles and Ray Eames
A pivotal couple in twentieth-century design, Charles and Ray Eames mastered combining artistic exploration, functional ergonomics, and the logic of mass production. Through scientific experimentation with materials—from curved plywood to plastic resins, to aluminum alloys— they signed furnishings that endured fashion trends, becoming eternal icons and museum-like embodiments of modern living.

The Manufacturer: ICF (Industria Componenti per l’Arredamento)
Founded in Italy, ICF was for decades one of the few companies worldwide to hold the official license to produce and distribute in the national territory the Eameses’ Aluminium Group. ICF’s manufacturing is historically celebrated by collectors for its extremely high quality standards, impeccable metal fusion work, and faithful fidelity to the original designs, making these vintage pieces collectible and likely to maintain their value over time.

Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes shipping insurance in the indicated shipping costs.