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Vitra

Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108

by Charles & Ray Eames, 1960 — from CHF 6’780.00
Vitra Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108

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Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108

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CHF 6’950.00 *
1 x in stock, delivery time 5-7 working days (country of delivery Switzerland)
3% advance payment discount*: CHF 6’741.50 (Save CHF 208.50)

The ES 105 / ES 108 Lobby Chairs by Charles and Ray Eames were originally designed for the lobby at the Rockefeller Center in New York. In subsequent years various versions were produced, but they all have one thing in common: outstanding comfort.

Details

Product type Executive chair
Dimensions

Dimensions in mm
Material Backrest and seat: Die-cast aluminum side braces, chrome plated
Upholstery: Polyurethane foam
Covers: Leather
Base: Die-cast aluminium chrome plated (4-star base)
Variants Available in zwo sizes
Colours

Function & properties Swivel
Maximum load: 110 kg
Care The aluminum components can be cleaned with glass cleaner to polish surfaces a little detergent, and then dry rub. Please refer to the enclosed brochure as regards the care of the leather covers.
Certificates & Sustainability Vitra attaches great importance to creating products with a long life, which allow for the simple exchange of worn parts and, as far as possible, are constructed from recyclable materials.

ISO 9001: 2008 (Quality management systems)
ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental management systems)
Warranty 24 months
Datasheet Click for more information (ca. 0,3 MB).
Production

Popular versions

Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Sand
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Nero
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Nero
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Sand
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Snow
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Chocolate
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Chocolate
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Marron
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Red
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Red
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Asphalt
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Snow
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 108, Marron
Lobby Chair ES 105 / ES 108, ES 105, Asphalt

Design Story

The Design

An office or conference chair of the extra class, the Eames Lobby Chair also cuts an imposing figure as an executive chair. Created in 1960 for the TimeLife building in New York the ES 105 / ES 108 has developed into the epitome of noble seating for upscale office and conference rooms. Originally designed for the lobby and waiting area, the Vitra ES 105 is a comfortable and visually representative chair. The design principle is reminiscent of that employed in the Eames lounge chair, albeit the three upholstery elements of the Eames Lobby Chair ES 105 are connected laterally by two aluminum braces. The ES 105 Executive Chair can also be seen as a further development of the Eames aluminum chairs, which are made from same two aluminium side braces and provide for a comfortable sitting experience on a very reduced chair. The unique design of the Eames Lobby Chair 108 became well known mainly through the 1972 World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, where Bobby Fischer (USA) and Boris Spassky (USSR) competed against each other – both sitting on a Lobby Chair.

Eames Lobby Chair with red leather covers

Designer

The history of probably the most famous designer couple of the modern era began in 1940 at the Cranbrook Acadamy of Arts. Charles Eames, born in St. Louis in 1907, was working with the architect Eero Saarinen on their preparations for the "Low Cost Furniture" competition at the Museum of Modern Art when Ray Kaiser, born in Sacramento in 1912, joined the team as an assistant. The following year, Ray Kaiser and Charles Eames married and not only strengthened their personal relationship but also began a very productive and long-lasting professional cooperation. At the Eames Studio in Los Angeles, a large body of work was created including furniture and chairs, such as the ES 105 Lobby Chair, as well as films, textile designs, photographs and building designs. With their functional designs, for which the two designers often developed new manufacturing processes, the Eames entered the pantheon of furniture history. The collaboration lasted until the death of Charles Eames in 1978, with which all activities in the Eames studio were discontinued.

The Eames ES 104 with multi-part upholstery is part of the Vitra Lobby Chair series

Part of the Lobby Chair series: the lower and wider ES 105

Production

The original Eames Lobby Chair ES 105/ES 108 for Europe is manufactured by Vitra. The sides and the base of this design classic are crafted from chrome plated die-cast aluminum, while the upholstery features a leather cover available in various colours polyurethane foam filling. The Vitra ES 105 was designed in 1960 and, like many of the other Eames Chairs, is also manufactured with half a century of experience from Vitra, only the colours and covers being adapted from time to time to meet current trends and requirements. The consistently high quality of the Vitra ES 105 is the reason it comes with a 30-year guarantee; the longevity of the furniture is a reflection of Vitra's commitment sustainability, since resources are saved if furniture is maintained, and appreciated, for generations.

Ray and Charles Eames

Historical Context

The Eames Lobby Chair ES 105/ S 108 originated in an America dominated by the economic upswing of the post-war years, by rapid progress and the emergence of pop culture as well as the increasing importance of consumption. New materials and production techniques made it possible to produce furniture in large quantities for an expanding population. Ray and Charles Eames repeatedly pioneered this process by, for example, newly interpreting materials for furniture design and took new paths in furniture production. In addition, they often chose furniture as a means to meet requirements for flexible conditions in modern living and working environments. The Vitra ES 105 is part of a collection of Eames Lobby Chairs and is also available as the ES 104 with castors.

Manufacturer

The ES 105 Lobby Chair has been produced in Europe by the furniture manufacturer Vitra since its emergence in the 1960s. Founded in Birsfelden in Switzerland the company acquired in 1957 a license for the production of furniture by Charles and Ray Eames and other mid-century designers such as Alexander Girard or George Nelson, from the US manufacturer Herman Miller. Vitra and Charles & Ray Eames, however, always had a friendly relationship, which is why the designer's estate eventually came to Europe, to Vitra. With its heritage, Vitra regularly organizes exhibitions and also incorporates the Eames philosophy into its own. In addition to Eames' designs, such as the Eames Lobby Chair ES 105, the Vitra portfolio also includes numerous other modern classics as well as current designs by designers such as Hella Jongerius, Konstantin Grcic and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

More about 'ES 105', 'ES 108' in our blog

"Everyone steals from everyone else. The seating industry lives from reciprocal robbery"

As many of you know we don't do trends. Never have. Never will. But others do. And back in 1964 the trend in West Germany was leather furniture. At least according to Der Spiegel. In "Haut und Haare", a delightful article, that admittedly probably shouldn't...

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