This is the Eames Time Life Chair or the "Don Draper Chair". We’ll check out just what makes this mid-century modern chair so special, why I think it’s the perfect minimalist chair, and how you can get one for a quarter of the $4600 Herman Miller retail price.
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Let’s Dive In
This seemingly simple leather chair was originally designed for the corporate offices of the 1960’s. Since then this chair has become a bit of an icon, showing up in everything from Mad Men to Watchmen. An iconic chair with an equally iconic price tag.
So what makes this $4000 chair so special? Well as often with great design, it starts with the people behind the design.
The Time life chair, sometimes called the Eames Executive chair or The Time life lobby chair was designed by Charles and Ray Eames. Who If you didn’t know were a married couple with an amazing approach for all kinds of design ranging from architecture, furniture, industrial design, as well as photography and film. They also happen to be one of the most important designers of the last 20th century. Making iconic pieces like the Eames Lounge chair, molded plywood chair, and to bring it back, The time life chair.
It was originally designed by the Eameses as a favor to Henry Luce, the founder of Time Inc. He gave the Eameses access to the Time/Life library of photos for their first multi-screen film, Glimpses of the USA that gave the Russian people at the time a look at the average American life. A year later, Luce came knocking and asked the Eameses to design the lobby of his new Manhattan Time Life office.
And so the time life chair was born.
Devoid of any decoration, This plush leather swivel chair was created to somewhat resemble a smaller version of the iconic Eames Lounge Chair. Bringing with it, comfort and simplicity to an otherwise utilitarian office chair.
I think you should consider it as your next work chair.
First of all, it’s comfortable. The leather-covered cushions have just the right amount of support, and the wheels help you glide around pretty effortlessly. I think it makes a great work chair, or as I call it the thinking chair. I love that this feels like a combination of a task chair and lounge chair. Meaning that it’s great to get work done throughout the day when you’re actively in front of your desk, but also equally great for sitting back taking a moment to reflect and to relax.
For a minimalist workspace, it’s great to have one chair that serves multiple purposes.
There is one negative thing that has to be mentioned. And that’s the lumbar support. The cushions are positioned in a way that there isn’t really much support for your lower back. So if your lower back is an issue, this might not be the chair for you.
Now The price.
This chair isn’t cheap.
The design has always felt special to me, But at $4,692 directly from Herman Miller or Vitra, the official manufacturers. It was a big stretch. So how did I get an authentic one for a quarter of the price? I went vintage.
Now that I’ve had it for a few years, I’m so glad that I did. There’s something about it that feels so much warmer and inviting than a new one off of a showroom. The tiny imperfections actually give it a soul. It feels like it’s lived many lives before and I’d to think that I’m just the next caretaker of this classic piece.
The frame was built like a tank. The leather actually patinas and gets nicer with time. And you can even find ones with the cushions refreshed. There have been many versions over the years,
Mine is from the early 1970’s. If you’re looking for a vintage one, the thing to look for is the 4 castor wheels and I recommend going with the black leather version. Get one of these and never worry about it depreciating in value.
At the end of the day, this isn’t an ergonomic chair with 29 positions and knobs. Unlike so many ergonomic chairs these days there’s a real weight to the time life chair. It’s solid and built like something from another time. Yet it looks timeless and avoids any extras or unwanted details. And if you’re looking for something to help you equally concentrate on your work and once you’re done to also relax, and reflect on a job well done. Then maybe this chair is also the one for you.
#Eames #WorkFromHome #MinimalistOffice #MidcenturyModern