Eames Bikini Wire Chair by Herman Miller designed by Charles and Ray Eames
At A Glance: First introduced in 1951, the Eames Wire Chair was an immediate hit. Distinctively, unmistakably Eames, this chrome metal chair has stood the test of time and is as popular today as it was half a century ago. This uniquely upholstered version features a seat and back pad that reveals the beautifully crafted wire frame - a style that is affectionately known as the "bikini chair."
What's To Like: For style, the Bikini Chair gets an "A" - it's got just the right mixture of chrome and leather (colorful or monochrome). You can go industrial with black leather, minimalist with white leather, or carnival with lagoon or cherry leather.
What's Not to Like: The leather pad goes a long way towards making the Wire Chair a comfortable seat, but it still won't be a comfortable long-term (read: 1 hour) seat. You'll get a sore bum if you stay put for long.
The Bottom Line: A prime example of the Eameses use of welded wire, the Bikini Wire Chair is small, light, and has a beautifully crafted Eiffel Tower base for added character. All that remains is for your to choose which leather you love most!
Details:
Overall: 32.75" h x 19.75" w x 21.25" d
Seat height: 16.5"
Chrome frame with leather upholstery
Elegantly crafted Eiffel Tower base
Leather Options:
Stock Leather Chromium free and from Austria this stock Herman Miller leather is a winner for most. With a matte, soft feel this is the most popular leather used on Herman Miller upholstered items.
Open Line Leather Austrian by birth, yours by choice. Open Line leather is closest to the stock Herman Miller leathers but available in a wider array of colors.
The Herman Miller Eames Bikini Wire Chair is also known by the following manufacturer Item Numbers: DKR.0, DKR.2, DKR.5.
In the Eames design studio, Charles and Ray were never satisfied with working with traditional materials and the constraints they placed on the forms they envisioned. After all, it was Charles and Ray who had developed new ways to mold wood that were so successful that their discoveries were used in numerous ways by the US Navy during World War II. That same molded plywood, and then molded plastic, ended up as materials in innovative chairs produced in the 1940s. Never content to repeat themselves, in the early 1950s, the Eameses and their design staff turned to bent and welded wire. Inspired by trays, dress forms, and baskets, the designers developed a variety of pieces, including Eames wire chairs.
Charles and Ray Eames Charles and Ray Eames are perhaps the most celebrated designers of the 20th century. Married in 1941, the Eames duo are responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed furniture designs of the modern era. Amongst their most famous designs are the wire chair, the aluminum chair group, and the Bikini Wire Chair. Although they are most often remembered today for their furniture designs with partner Herman Miller, the Eameses engaged in artistic expression across a broad range of mediums - including architecture and film-making.
Herman Miller is an industry leader in the integration of cutting edge technology to furniture and other household items to make everyday life more comfortable, convenient, and stylish. Herman Miller stands out at the forefront of such fields as ergonomic technologies, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and customizable furniture items.
In addition to producing some of the most outstanding office furniture in the world, Herman Miller has also taken on the responsibility of manufacturing some of the most celebrated furniture designs by some of the world's most famous designs. These "modern classics" include works by Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. Herman Miller celebrates these famous mid-century designers' works through its extraordinarily precise manufacturing techniques and industry-leading green production processes.
Herman Miller is a global company with operations, sales offices, dealers, and licensees in more than 40 countries in North America, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, serving customers virtually anywhere in the world. Herman Miller is headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, while manufacturing facilities are located in the U.S., China, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
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