Charles & Ray Eames
(1907 - 1978) and (1912-1988)
Pioneers of Mid-Century Modernism, husband and wife Charles & Ray Eames channeled their vision of design through a multitude of ventures, showing that design can enhance the world and the way people live. Through the Eames Office (Venice, California) Charles and Ray produced films, toys, lecture tours, and most famously furniture. The primary focus of the office, according to Charles was to “bring the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least.”
On July 9, 2000 Los Angeles Modern Auctions had the great honor to conduct an auction solely dedicated to the work of Charles & Ray Eames, including property from the collection of John and Marilyn Neuhart. Also in this catalogue are two “DCW” prototypes, which were hand-built in the Eames Office. This auction was a landmark auction for LAMA and influenced the market value and importance of the Eames’ work in the 21st century.
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- Lot 296
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Kiosk designed for the IBM Pavilion, New York World’s Fair 1964
- Iron, walnut, plastic laminates, and hand painted surfaces
- Custom fabrication by DMI, Los Angeles
- June 18, 2006 Auction
- Estimate $80,000 – 100,000
- Realized $72,000
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- Lot 209
- Charles & Ray Eames
- DCW prototype
- Produced at the Eames Office prior to December 1945
- Plywood with black aniline dye spine and legs
- Retains Museum of Modern Art exhibition inventory label and Evans label
- 29.5″ x 19″ x 21.5″
- December 11, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $100,000 – 150,000
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- Lot 268
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Custom dowel leg coffee table
- 1952
- Unique
- Custom designed for John Tigrett
- This was a special commission for Mr. John Tigrett, founder of Tigrett Enterprises, who later produced the Hang-it-all, the Toy and the Giant House of Cards for the Eames Office.
- 16.5″ x 46″ x 27.75″
- December 11, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $20,000 – 30,000
- Realized $32,500
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- Lot 210
- Charles & Ray Eames
- DCW-U
- Herman Miller, designed 1946
- Black aniline dye plywood with pony slunkskin hyde
- 28.75″ x 19.5″ x 21″
- December 11, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $10,000 – 15,000
- Realized $12,500
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- Lot 267
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Storage Unit
- Herman Miller, custom designed 1950 for Lawrence Strickland, 1953
- Unique
- 22.25″ x 46.875″ x 16″
- December 11, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $15,000 – 20,000
- Realized $18,750
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- Lot 42
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Lounge chair and ottoman
- Herman Miller, designed 1956
- Model no. 670 & 671
- 31”h x 33.5”w x 36”d
- June 26, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $3,500 – 5,000
- Realized $5,000
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- Lot 41
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Child’s Chair
- Plywood with red analine dye finish
- Evans Molded Plywood Division, designed 1945
- Produced for only one year, approximately 5000 chairs and stools were made in total.
- 14.5”h x 14.5”w x 11”d
- June 26, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $7,000 – 9,000
- Realized $13,700
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- Lot 12
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Storage Unit
- Herman Miller, designed 1952
- Model no. ESU-420-C
- 58.675″h x 47″w x 16.75″d
- June 26, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $8,000 – 12,000
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- Lot 179
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Desk
- Herman Miller, designed 1950
- Model no. ESU D-20-C
- 28.75”h x 60”w x 24”d
- March 6, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $7,000 – 9,000
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- Lot 180
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Storage Unit
- Designed 1950
- Herman Miller
- Model no. ESU-421-C
- 58.675”h x 47”w x 16.75”d
- March 6, 2011 Auction
- Estimate $15,000 – 20,000
- Realized $18,750
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- Lot 376
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Sofa Compact
- Model No. 473
- Herman Miller, designed 1954
- Black Vinyl
- 36”h x 29”d x 71”
- October 17, 2010 Auction
- Estimate $2,000 – 3,000
- Realized $1,838
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- Lot 94
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Lounge Chair
- Model No. LCM
- Herman Miller, designed 1947
- Wood with brown leather
- 27”h x 22.25”w x 24”d
- October 17, 2010 Auction
- Estimate $2,000 – 3,000
- Realized $3,063
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- Lot 29
- A rare and highly important prototype “DCW” with armrests Produced at the Eames Office prior to December 1945
- Provenance: Charles Eames, Private Collection, California
- July 9, 2000 Eames Auction
- Estimate $70,000 – 80,000
- Realized: $107,000
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- Lot 71
- A fine and important plywood, steel and masonite “ESU-421-C”
- Produced by Herman Miller c. 1951
- July 9, 2000 Eames Auction
- Estimate $20,000 – 25,000
- Realized $70,700
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- Lot 187
- Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen
- “Conversation” armchair prototype
- Molded plywood shell with formed foam rubber cushioning and custom upholstery by Marli Ehrman raised on four tapering angled wood dowel legs. Recovered over original upholstery
- May 16, 1999 Auction
- Estimate $45,000 – 50,000
- Realized $129,000
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- Lot 123
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Hang-it-all
- Tigrett Enterprises, designed 1953
- This Hang-it-all was a gift from Ray Eames to Elaine Jones
- May 23, 2010 Auction
- Estimate $2,000 – 3,000
- Realized $8,575
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- Lot 55
- Charles & Ray Eames
- Wall-mounted outdoor seating unit
- Custom designed for the IBM Pavilion for the 1964 New York World’s Fair
- December 3, 2006 Auction
- Estimate $8,000 – 12,000
- Realized $14,400