The Impact of the Eames Chair

Ray and Charles Eames released their molded fiberglass armchair in 1950, after creating it for the International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design, sponsored by the MoMA. The affordable fiberglass design was an answer to the limited financial and material resources available after WWII.

In its earliest form, this chair was molded plastic on an aluminum base, upholstered with fabric cushions. Eventually, the style expanded to offer a variety of finishes, bases, and upholstery options. They became hugely popular, appearing everywhere from sports stadiums to college lounges.

original Eames ad

Authenticating Vintage Furniture

I’m always inclined to support buying originals or reproductions that are authenticated, but it can be difficult when you have a tighter spending budget. The reseller market makes this even more complicated because prices are often still high for replicas. Surely we’ve all seen Cesca-style chairs and fake Togos being resold for absurd prices that are considerably less than the originals but still expensive nonetheless. (“Made in Italy” stickers are the new “Made in China” stamp.) But some dealers aren’t being honest about whether or not a piece is authentic, even though it’s not hard to add descriptors like “frequently attributed to,” “in the style of” or “commonly mistaken for” to a listing.

B&B Italia

For the remainder of the sets, set decorators Rena DeAngelo (episodes one and two) and Rich Devine (episode three onward) filled New York City soundstages with an abundance of high-end furnishings. For Julien’s boyfriend Obie (Eli Brown), who has impossibly wealthy German parents and an interest in social justice, they created a cool and trendy warm-toned Dumbo loft.