Urban Art Association

Hey there,

So, if you wanna be sure, just search for local dealer at the Vitra website (link is for UK):

www.vitra.com/en-gb/living/dealers

If you would like to buy a vintage version of this chair, search for one made by Herman Miller (Glasfibre material in stead of plastic for the shell)

As Jasper has said, Vitra hold the current official license to produce most of the classic Eames designed chairs. So check their list of official stockists.

John Lewis are a licensed stockist. Though there are many others around the country. From national chains like Heals to more specialist furniture shops like Skandium, SCP, Conran Shop, and Twenty Twenty One.

If you're looking online, nest.co.uk is another good online retailer for official product.

It's a good time to look if you're planning on buying new, as many of the designer furniture shops currently have their summer sales on. Vitra normally offer 15-20% discount during sale period, which most of stockists normally run. Unfortunately, you'll have just missed the start of the sales, so most ex display bargains will be gone.

If your seeing apparently new Eames chairs at real knock down prices, the likelihood is that they are unlicensed repros. So always worth asking if they're official Vitra product and check the markings. The official stockists won't stock repros, so you should be safe there.

Not to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, whilst the Eames RAR is a classic, beautiful design, your wife may well find that it's not the most comfortable chair to sit in for any prolonged period. The mid-height back is a real problem for some. I think there are other classic designs better suited for your purpose - e.g., I think that a Hans Wegner designed J16, or an Ercol designed Chairmakers, or a similar high backed rocking chair would be a better option.

If you're considering second-hand, then this website is a good place to start - modernshows.com. Their shows bring a lot of the best retailers of mid-century modern furniture together, plus the website lists many of the stockists too. If you're in London, it's also well worth checking out: www.forestlondon.com and www.theoldcinema.co.uk (among others)

Good God that design addict is a dangerous website!

Sooo many things that I want in 10 mins of viewing!

LOL, 10 mins?, wait until you keep going back on there 'just for another look', give it a couple of days and you will be theoretically broke!.

As already posted, Twentytwentyone are good.

Not Eames but for more inspiration check Driade for products (some designers there pure mental but love em).

www.driade.com/site/?___store=eng&___from_store=default

also more niche but worth a beak Jimmiemartin.....(the Sex Pistols of Design IMO).

www.jimmiemartin.com/menuNEW.htm

And dont forget Gaetano Pesce..... Nuts but in a nice way........

www.gaetanopesce.com/

Wow this old shell looks great! I got an official vitra at home from 2009 and I love it, but you're right mate this is definitely not the most confortable chair if you want to have a nap!
You should look for the shell with cushion, it's way more confortable! I know vitra do it for this shell but with classic bases so you just have to check with modernica to get the rocking chair base!

Not sure if you have found your RAR. If not I have two rope-edge armshells by Zenith Plastics, these are the first generation of these armshells manufactured in 1949. Hence these things don't look new. Anyway, I'd be happy to let one of them go and switch the bases around if need be. Let me know if you're interested. Here's a photo.