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






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Aluminium Chair EA 108 with swivel base and armrests, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, produced by ICF in Italy around 1980, with a polished aluminium frame and black leather upholstery, in good used condition.
Description from the seller
Structural Rigidity: Aluminium Chair EA 108 Swivel – Design 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 armrests. Conceived in 1958, this chair represents one of the greatest design successes of the 20th century, offered here in a prestigious and sought-after vintage production by the Italian ICF, finished in polished aluminum and fine 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 famous art collector J. Irwin Miller in Columbus, Indiana, disrupting the construction norms of the period:
The Free-standing 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: stretching a continuous sheet of leather between two lateral aluminum profiles, transforming the covering itself into an elastic structural element.
Natural Ergonomics: Even without heavy, complex padding, the chair dynamically adapts to the lines and weight of the human body, offering postural comfort and a level of flexibility that remains unrivaled.
Purity of Lines: The EA 108 model stands out for its medium back and the sinuous geometric arms. The visual transparency of the structure makes this small armchair a versatile piece of absolute elegance, ideal for conference rooms, executive offices, or refined domestic settings.
Lot Conditions: Preservation State and Maintenance
- This original piece, dating to the 1980s, comes from the historic Italian manufacturer ICF and presents in excellent general condition:
- Frame and Metals: The polished aluminum frame and the characteristic 5-spoke swivel base (with fixed-end feet) are perfectly solid, robust, and stable. The metal retains its natural inherent sheen, showing only minimal and normal signs of aging consistent with the object's age.
- Black Leather Upholstery: The precious black leather covering is structurally intact, well tensioned, and free from 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 dye, showing only light and charming signs of wear.
- Mechanics: The swivel movement on the central pivot is smooth, consistent, 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 central couple of the design of the twentieth century, Charles and Ray Eames uniquely combined artistic exploration, functional ergonomics, and the logic of mass production. Through scientific experimentation with materials—from curved plywood to synthetic resins, up to aluminum alloys—they created furnishings that have endured the test of time, becoming eternal and museal icons of modern living.
The Manufacturer: ICF (Industria Componenti per l'Arredamento)
Founded in Italy, ICF was for decades one of the few companies in the world to hold the official license for production and distribution of the Eames Aluminium Group in the national territory. The ICF manufacturing plant is historically celebrated by collectors for its extremely high quality standards, flawless metal fusion work, and faithful adherence to the original designs, characteristics that make these vintage pieces collectible and capable of maintaining their value over time.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes insurance for transport in the indicated shipping costs.
Seller's Story
Structural Rigidity: Aluminium Chair EA 108 Swivel – Design 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 armrests. Conceived in 1958, this chair represents one of the greatest design successes of the 20th century, offered here in a prestigious and sought-after vintage production by the Italian ICF, finished in polished aluminum and fine 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 famous art collector J. Irwin Miller in Columbus, Indiana, disrupting the construction norms of the period:
The Free-standing 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: stretching a continuous sheet of leather between two lateral aluminum profiles, transforming the covering itself into an elastic structural element.
Natural Ergonomics: Even without heavy, complex padding, the chair dynamically adapts to the lines and weight of the human body, offering postural comfort and a level of flexibility that remains unrivaled.
Purity of Lines: The EA 108 model stands out for its medium back and the sinuous geometric arms. The visual transparency of the structure makes this small armchair a versatile piece of absolute elegance, ideal for conference rooms, executive offices, or refined domestic settings.
Lot Conditions: Preservation State and Maintenance
- This original piece, dating to the 1980s, comes from the historic Italian manufacturer ICF and presents in excellent general condition:
- Frame and Metals: The polished aluminum frame and the characteristic 5-spoke swivel base (with fixed-end feet) are perfectly solid, robust, and stable. The metal retains its natural inherent sheen, showing only minimal and normal signs of aging consistent with the object's age.
- Black Leather Upholstery: The precious black leather covering is structurally intact, well tensioned, and free from 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 dye, showing only light and charming signs of wear.
- Mechanics: The swivel movement on the central pivot is smooth, consistent, 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 central couple of the design of the twentieth century, Charles and Ray Eames uniquely combined artistic exploration, functional ergonomics, and the logic of mass production. Through scientific experimentation with materials—from curved plywood to synthetic resins, up to aluminum alloys—they created furnishings that have endured the test of time, becoming eternal and museal icons of modern living.
The Manufacturer: ICF (Industria Componenti per l'Arredamento)
Founded in Italy, ICF was for decades one of the few companies in the world to hold the official license for production and distribution of the Eames Aluminium Group in the national territory. The ICF manufacturing plant is historically celebrated by collectors for its extremely high quality standards, flawless metal fusion work, and faithful adherence to the original designs, characteristics that make these vintage pieces collectible and capable of maintaining their value over time.
Shipping and Insurance
Our company ORVETT includes insurance for transport in the indicated shipping costs.
