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





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Aluminium Chair EA 117 by Charles and Ray Eames, produced in Italy by ICF in the 1980s, with an aluminium frame and Hopsak grey/black fabric, dimensions 51 cm wide by 70 cm deep by 83 cm high, in excellent condition.
Description from the seller
Work Architecture: Aluminium Chair EA 117 – Design Charles and Ray Eames – Production 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, equipped with swivel base, casters, and height adjustment. Conceived in 1958, this seat revolutionized the architecture of office furnishings, here offered in a historic and robust Italian production by ICF in polished aluminium with dark grey/black Hopsak fabric.
Design and history: the taut 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: having eliminated the rigid shell, the project is based on a continuous panel of fabric stretched between two aluminium side profiles. The seat thus becomes an elastic and cushioning element that actively follows the contours of the body.
Visual purity: the EA 117 form is clean, light, and transparent. Every mechanical and structural component remains intentionally visible, celebrating the quality of the join and the geometric rigor of the design.
Polished aluminium finish: unlike mirror-polished chrome versions, polished aluminium offers a natural, tactile, deep shine that highlights the artisanal quality of the finishes typical of the era's craftsmanship.
Lot conditions: condition and maintenance
- This original specimen, dating from the early 1980s, presents in excellent overall condition, carefully preserved to ensure immediate use:
- Frame and metals: the polished aluminium casting is solid, robust, and fully intact. The surfaces retain their original brilliant luster thanks to a recent professional cleaning and polishing, showing only very slight signs of aging consistent with the piece’s age.
- Hopsak upholstery: the dark grey/black Hopsak fabric — renowned for its tight weave and very high durability — is intact and stable. It has undergone a thorough cleaning and sanitizing process; 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 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 symbol duo of twentieth-century modernism, Charles and Ray Eames redefined the relationship between art, ergonomics, and mass production. Their experimental approach to materials produced structural solutions that have withstood the decades while maintaining their absolute visual and functional contemporary 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 within the national territory. The manufacturer historically distinguished itself for its excellent craftsmanship standards and for faithful philological adherence to the original projects by the Eames couple, making vintage Italian-made specimens highly sought after by collectors for durability and detail quality.
Shipping and insurance:
Our company ORVETT includes insurance for transport in the indicated shipping costs. For overseas shipping, the cost is indicative. We will prepare a quote after the auction concludes based on the destination.
Seller's Story
Work Architecture: Aluminium Chair EA 117 – Design Charles and Ray Eames – Production 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, equipped with swivel base, casters, and height adjustment. Conceived in 1958, this seat revolutionized the architecture of office furnishings, here offered in a historic and robust Italian production by ICF in polished aluminium with dark grey/black Hopsak fabric.
Design and history: the taut 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: having eliminated the rigid shell, the project is based on a continuous panel of fabric stretched between two aluminium side profiles. The seat thus becomes an elastic and cushioning element that actively follows the contours of the body.
Visual purity: the EA 117 form is clean, light, and transparent. Every mechanical and structural component remains intentionally visible, celebrating the quality of the join and the geometric rigor of the design.
Polished aluminium finish: unlike mirror-polished chrome versions, polished aluminium offers a natural, tactile, deep shine that highlights the artisanal quality of the finishes typical of the era's craftsmanship.
Lot conditions: condition and maintenance
- This original specimen, dating from the early 1980s, presents in excellent overall condition, carefully preserved to ensure immediate use:
- Frame and metals: the polished aluminium casting is solid, robust, and fully intact. The surfaces retain their original brilliant luster thanks to a recent professional cleaning and polishing, showing only very slight signs of aging consistent with the piece’s age.
- Hopsak upholstery: the dark grey/black Hopsak fabric — renowned for its tight weave and very high durability — is intact and stable. It has undergone a thorough cleaning and sanitizing process; 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 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 symbol duo of twentieth-century modernism, Charles and Ray Eames redefined the relationship between art, ergonomics, and mass production. Their experimental approach to materials produced structural solutions that have withstood the decades while maintaining their absolute visual and functional contemporary 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 within the national territory. The manufacturer historically distinguished itself for its excellent craftsmanship standards and for faithful philological adherence to the original projects by the Eames couple, making vintage Italian-made specimens highly sought after by collectors for durability and detail quality.
Shipping and insurance:
Our company ORVETT includes insurance for transport in the indicated shipping costs. For overseas shipping, the cost is indicative. We will prepare a quote after the auction concludes based on the destination.

