Inspiration: Customized Eames Shell Chairs

Every once in a while we come across an Eames shell for a pittance compared to what it would cost to buy one new; but usually such finds have seen better days. Here are a few chairs that have been transformed by artists and crafters to take on new life after the original surface has passed its prime.

• Wary Meyer's Painted Eames Shell Chair

• Posted by woodywood on the DesignAddict forum

• Before and After: Customized Eames Chair (Design*Sponge)

• C & C Projects (via Design*Sponge)

• Chair with drawing by artist Saul Steinberg,
ca. 1952

Comments (11)

I like the painted ones, especially the first and last. And the "chocolate-dipped" version is like the ubiquitous NYC black and white cookie. Yummy.

posted by Forestdweller on February 23rd 2009 at 4:34pm
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mmm, that one dipped in chocolate looks good.

posted by lab director on February 23rd 2009 at 4:34pm
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Steinberg wins, but I love them all. Very much in keeping with the spirit of the Eameses -- I'm all for the modification and embellishment of mass-produced design!

posted by Anna at D16 on February 23rd 2009 at 5:13pm
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i can't choose... i love them all

posted by wampler on February 23rd 2009 at 5:18pm
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Could this be a DIY? Does anyone have suggestions for painting one of these?

posted by kat.w on February 23rd 2009 at 5:26pm
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I love all of them.

Not exactly the same but look at this version of the Panton Chair
http://www.propertyfurniture.com/NEW_images/chairs/PDFS/HimHer.pdf

posted by LoriSF on February 23rd 2009 at 5:48pm
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i like the last one, but otherwise i'm really not into these. I love the shape of the eames chairs, and the embellishments feel distracting to me (again, except for the last one). Just a plain jane, I guess.

posted by emilykristin on February 23rd 2009 at 6:14pm
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I think it should be known that painting eames chairs makes them pretty much worthless... and anyway, the only one that looks decent is the one that is "chocolate dipped"... the other ones are so ugly!

posted by Lafferteezy on February 23rd 2009 at 6:24pm
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BTW... I just want to make this clear... I am all for DIY but I would just stick to no name garbage... not very nice vintage furniture. That shell chair was awesome before it was painted... probably worth a lot of money!

posted by Lafferteezy on February 23rd 2009 at 6:26pm
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Iconic or not, I think shell chairs are ugly. (Sorry, Charles and Ray--I still love you.) These ideas make them much less "cafeteria." But I still don't love them.

posted by farmhousemoderne on February 23rd 2009 at 11:47pm
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These are not DIY schemes, not to say that one couldn't modify something like this on their own. I do have a few years of experience in furniture finishing as well as a modern art background, still it took some trial and error to get the chocolate look to be visually apealing and also very durable.
As to the previous post commenting on value of modified Eames shells, personally with my work I have found that when done properly it neither hurts nor enhances the open market value. Although it may take slightly longer to find the right customer there are those that appreciate uniqueness of something like this.
In the case of the Saul Steinberg his artwork has greatly increased the value of the chair.
I am currently working on a set of 6 side shells in 3 colors:
green,yellow,black. Will post photos on this page soon if possible.
Thanks for all the feedback

posted by modernmovements on March 10th 2009 at 11:09pm
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