The Eames Office opens access to iconic Eames designs: Rare and limited-edition pieces available exclusively on Catawiki

Amsterdam, 3 October 2025 – In a first-time collaboration, Catawiki, the leading online marketplace for special objects, and the Eames Office, the historic creative studio founded by Charles and Ray Eames in 1941, now led by the third generation of the family, have joined forces to present a curated series of online auctions featuring rare, limited-edition, and archival Eames designs. Launching on 3 October 2025, and running through early 2026, the three auctions will offer collectors across Europe and beyond the opportunity to acquire original pieces from one of the most influential design duos of the 20th century, many available in the region for the very first time.

Highlights from the Eames Office archive featured in the Catawiki auction series. 

Photo by Homer Horowitz, 2025. © 2025 Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved.

A total of around 30 pieces directly from the Eames Office Shop will be presented, spanning the wide-ranging creativity of Charles and Ray Eames. Alongside sculptural plywood works and limited-edition productions of iconic designs such as the Eames Fiberglass Armchair with Steinberg Cat by Vitra and Herman Miller, the selection includes vibrant graphic vintage ephemera, toys and playful pieces, and a curated array of collectors’ gems that offer an intimate look at the Eameses’ cross-disciplinary curiosity. A shortlist of standout pieces featured across the auctions is outlined in the attached overview, offering a glimpse into the rarity and breadth of this release. The first auction runs from 3 to 12 October, setting the stage for a series that celebrates the many dimensions of their vision.

An enduring legacy 

Charles and Ray Eames weren’t just design collaborators, they were life partners whose creative partnership helped redefine the role of design in the modern world. Ray’s background in painting and fine arts complemented Charles’ architectural training, and together they built a holistic worldview rooted in curiosity and experimentation. They approached design as a way of improving how people live; bringing beauty into everyday life, sparking curiosity in children as well as adults, and showing that good design could be for everyone. Their legacy lies not only in what they created, but in the spirit with which they worked: democratic, playful, and deeply human. From objects designed to teach and delight, to pieces now etched into the canon of modern design, their work reflected a belief that design was a tool for connection and discovery — and accessible to all. That timeless approach is what continues to make their work resonate with new generations of design lovers.

“Collectors play a critical role in celebrating the curiosity and pioneering spirit of Charles and Ray’s legacy. They are often the ones who help others see the value–intrinsic and economic–in less familiar designs. One example is the Eames Elephant, which we played with as kids, but was so difficult to manufacture that we were pretty much the only ones. A collector's edition for Charles' Centennial brought it back. And while the Eames Elephant is now enjoyed widely, that numbered first edition is what the collector wants. Our partnership with Catawiki is an exciting step forward in ensuring collectors across the globe can access, appreciate, and, if they are successful, live with these particularly iconic Eames designs–including elephants!–that we have curated from our archives.’’ stated Eames Demetrios, Director of the Eames Office and grandson of Charles and Ray Eames. 

“At Catawiki, we believe great design should be within reach, not reserved for a select few. Partnering with the Eames Office is a powerful step in that mission.’’ commented Morten Valther Graae Joergensen, Vice President Interiors at Catawiki. “Charles and Ray Eames transformed the way we think about form, function, and beauty, and this series of auctions invites more people to connect with their legacy in a meaningful way. By opening up access to rare and archival pieces, we’re not only celebrating the brilliance of the Eameses, we’re helping design lovers across Europe take part in keeping that legacy alive for the next generation.” 

On the left: Charles and Ray Eames pinned by DCM chair bases, shot outside of the Eames Office, while preparing a Herman Miller advertisement in 1947. © Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved. On the right: The Eames Fiberglass Armchair with Saul Steinberg illustration, photographed inside the Eames 901 Studio. © Eames Office, LLC. All rights reserved.

About the Eames Office 

Charles and Ray Eames founded their Los Angeles-based design practice, the Eames Office, in 1941, and produced significant contributions to architecture, furniture design, film, textiles, toys, exhibitions, and beyond. Through their work and its ongoing impact, the Eames Office reimagined the concept of a design studio in terms of philosophy, work ethic, and process.   

Since Charles' passing in 1978 and Ray's passing in 1988, the Eames Office has transformed from a multidisciplinary design practice into a cultural and commercial organization. Led by the next generations of the Eames family, the Eames Office is dedicated to communicating, preserving, and extending one of the world's most influential design legacies. To carry out its mission the Eames Office works closely with authorized manufacturers to bring original Eames designs to market, introducing their work to new generations through educational programs, curated exhibitions, and brand collaborations. Further, the Eames Office also extends Charles and Ray's legacy through its ongoing support of the Charles & Ray Eames Foundation. For more information, visit eamesoffice.com

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