Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman from Herman Miller

An icon of modern furniture design and an object in MoMA’s collection, the Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman was conceived by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956. Marrying beauty and comfort, the Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman is a work of art designed for everyday living.

At MoMA Design Store, we offer the Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Walnut, Oak or Ebony shells. You can choose from leather or fabric upholstery. The leather styles are upholstered in 100% Italian full-grain leather. This classic-look leather is distinguished by its medium pebbling and supple hand. It’s colored with transparent dye and light pigment, and benefits from the added protection of a silicone topcoat. The leather will develop a softened patina over time. When first conceived, the designers’ modest desire was, according to Charles, to create a chair with “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”—translating the soft, comfortable look and feel of a genuine leather baseball glove that has been properly broken in.

We offer the chair in two beautiful fabrics. The checkered fabric, designed by Alexander Girard in 1965, is 77% cotton and 23% polyester. Girard’s checkered fabric design was used for an armchair he conceived in 1967, which is an object in MoMA’s collection. The bouclé, a fabric characterized by its nubby texture, is 33% acrylic, 30% wool, 29% cotton, 7% polyester and 1% viscose.

A new version of the chair features bamboo leather—83% of the material is plant-based, made from fibers extruded from the pulp of FSC Certified bamboo, while 17% of the material consists of protective resins which are free of toxins and solvents, and free of micro-plastics as a by-product when decomposing. Production uses 1/3 less water consumption compared to use of plants like cotton in fiber production. It biodegrades completely in a landfill in less than 250 days (requires a zero-oxygen environment along with the microbes found in landfills). It is buttery soft and has the look and feel of premium quality leathers, while having a 35% reduction in carbon footprint compared to an Eames Lounge and Ottoman with traditional leather.

The Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman has been produced in the USA for over 50 years by the original manufacturer, Herman Miller®. This authorized version is composed of three separate curved 7-ply veneer shells: the head rest, the back support and the seat, all topped with upholstered leather or fabric cushions. The seat pivots on a five-pronged base, moving effortlessly with one’s body movements.

The Eames® Lounge Chair measures 32.75h x 32.75w x 32.75″d while the Ottoman measures 17h x 26w x 21.5″d. The chair’s weight limit is 300lbs.

Please note that the leather exhibits natural markings and inherent color and textural variations. The leather will lighten in color during prolonged exposure to heat or sunlight.

Learn more about the Eames® Lounge Chair and Ottoman on our storytelling page here.