Charles and Ray Eames, USA, 1946
LCM (Lounge Chair Metal)
Made by Herman Miller
Designed 1946, manufactured 1951-56
Dyed ash plywood, leather upholstery, chrome-plated steel, and rubber shock mounts
Applied foil manufacturer's label to underside: 'Design Charles Eames Herman Miller Zeeland, Michigan'
"From the 1920s to the 1940s, the pioneers of modern chair design—Aalto, Breuer, Eames—produced seats in three distinct mediums. Tubular Steel. Bent Plywood. And the most difficult of all, the marriage of steel and plywood. I firmly believe that the most successful realization of the third category is the LCM and DCM designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946. The separation of the molded plywood back and seat simplified production and heightened the design’s sculptural qualities by emphasizing the space surrounding the actual form. The rubber shock mounts were the secret sauce of all Eames chair designs, cushioning the impact of sitting on plywood on top of the frame. In the end, the LCM is a far more compelling chair than the LCW, in which the seat, back and legs were plywood.
"Eames collectors love early and quirky examples of the most famous designs, and the present LCM certainly fits the bill. We acquired a pair of these chairs because it is the first time we have ever seen original blue leather seats and backs, contrasted with black aniline dye finish to the wood on the underside. The manufacturer and retailer labels date these examples to approximately 1952."
—James Zemaitis
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