Carved Base Antler 4
1957
A key conceptual feature of the Eames Aluminum Group is the pair of aluminum spreaders that hold the upholstery taut between two aluminum side members. These spreaders create the necessary tension for transforming fabric into a supportive seat and backrest. Dubbed “antlers” by the Eames Office staff thanks to their distinctive shape, one spreader is located midway up the chair’s back and doubles as a handle. The other is located underneath the seat and serves both to stretch the textile and to attach the body of the chair to its base. In this instance, the spreader also features a rectangular box affixed at its center. Open on one side, the box was designed to fit over the tilt mechanism used for the reclining chair, which allowed a sitter to adjust the chair’s angle by manipulating a protruding handle. The two rounded notches on either side of the box allowed the entire body of the chair to pivot forwards and backwards over the mechanism. This device gave the reclining chair a somewhat clunkier profile than the others in the collection, but also enhanced its functionality and comfort.
- Medium:Wood
- Dimensions:6 1/8 x 20 3/8 x 7 1/8 in. (15.6 x 51.8 x 18.1 cm)
- Design Date:1957
- Item:P.2019.2.5.7
