the Eames recliner

Posted by: Steve Bull on 20 January 2005

I've wanted one of these for ages, and (subject to trousering a decent bonus next month) I intend to treat myself to one as my first system upgrade of 2005.

Does anyone know about buying these things?

I look on eBay and there are always a few selling at around £1,000 (inc footstool), like this one. Feedback seems fair and I've seen them selling for ages so no reason to think it's a dodgy seller.

On the other hand, I can go to thisisfurniture.com where they'll relieve me of just over £1,700 at sale prices; or get the authorised Vitra repro from Maelstrom for £3,500.

Anyone got any idea what the difference is between all these? Why is there a 4x price difference between Maelstrom and eBay?

I'd be happy enough to buy a decent used one (Adam - this isn't a wanted ad) but never seen one for sale second-hand. Any ideas on places and prices?

I want to buy once and buy right - this chair is going to have to last a lifetime - so if I need to save up further then so be it, but obviously I'm not keen on spending extra money unnecessarily.

Steve.
Posted on: 20 January 2005 by Bob McC
'Why is there a 4x price difference between Maelstrom and eBay?'

Quality of plywood frame asnd leather upholstery perhaps?

Bob
Posted on: 20 January 2005 by Clay Bingham
Steve

In the U.S the official licensee for the Eames chair is Herman Miller. This is the real deal, not a fake. A good site is sit4less.com. Cost starts at $2995. Take advantage of our sinking dollar!

Enjoy
Clay
Posted on: 21 January 2005 by BigH47
Don't know I have a Stressless.

howard
Posted on: 21 January 2005 by reductionist
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Don't know I have a Stressless.

howard


Is it me or have the stressless chairs got significantly bigger and less subtle looking?
Posted on: 21 January 2005 by Steve Bull
Thanks for the replies.

Bob - quite possibly, but I've no way of finding out, hence the posting to see if anyone knew for sure (or had even tried them out).

Clay - great price, sadly sit4less won't ship to Europe. Presume this is a condition of the licence to make the chairs Frown

H & Red - err, thanks. WTF is a stressless?

Steve.
Posted on: 21 January 2005 by seagull
Stressless chairs

I've got one too, jolly comfortable they are too...

See some here...
Posted on: 21 January 2005 by --duncan--
Why the difference in cost? The quality, especially grade of leather, varies enormously. That does not mean you have to buy the 'official' licenced version but I would not personally buy furniture unseen because of this. I suspect these pieces all come from the same place in Italy but are finished to different specifications according to cost. A search for the originating factory might be productive. I have bought a similar item through thisisfurniture.com. They offered in a variety of qualities at a variety of prices for ostensibly the same item. They were prepared to 'do a deal' so go with your car-buying head on.

2nd hand 'originals' are sometimes available in places like Twenty Twenty One, (Upper St, Islington), Century (Marylebone High St) or the retro shops on the chic bit of Brick Lane, all in London. Prices will higher than for all but the new 'originals'.