3rd Generation Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

This chair and ottoman are in the process of being restored..but we want you to have a chance to see this chair.

This Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman has a incrediable rosewood grain. Beautiful dramatic grain matching across all 3 rosewood shells. If you like drama and are entranced by the iconic shape and storied history of this chair, this one is for you.

An iconic piece of 20th-century design, this authentic vintage Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (model 670/671) is a third-generation set produced in the mid 1970s. It will features new black (or a color of your choice) leather upholstery and richly figured rosewood veneer shells, beautifully aged with patina and character that only time can create.

Designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller and introduced in 1956, the Lounge Chair and Ottoman quickly became a symbol of luxury, innovation, and timeless modernism. This third-generation version retains the integrity of the classic form while showcasing details specific to early 1970s production—such as down-filled cushions, narrow armrests, and the coveted deep rosewood grain, now no longer available due to export restrictions on Brazilian rosewood.

The molded plywood shells are faced in richly figured Brazilian rosewood veneer, a species once prized for its dramatic grain movement and deep chocolate coloration. During the mid-20th century, rosewood was widely used by the greatest designers of the era—Eames, George Nelson, and others—because of its extraordinary beauty and durability. However, by the late 20th century Brazilian rosewood had become heavily protected due to deforestation and overharvesting. Today the species is regulated internationally under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and cannot be harvested or exported for commercial furniture production.

As a result, authentic vintage examples of Eames Lounge Chairs with Brazilian rosewood shells have become increasingly rare and highly sought after by collectors. Modern production chairs now use walnut or other species, making the rosewood versions a true artifact of the original era of Mid-Century Modern design.

The shells on this chair display beautifully expressive grain patterns, with flowing ribbon-like figure that shifts in tone from warm amber to deep espresso brown. Each rosewood shell is unique—no two chairs are ever exactly alike—which gives every vintage example its own character and visual depth.

Complementing the wood is a set of supple black leather cushions, providing the classic contrast that made the Eames Lounge Chair famous. The cushions are generously padded, creating the relaxed, slightly reclined posture that defines the chair’s legendary comfort.

The Lounge Chair was famously described by Charles Eames as having the “warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.” Nearly seventy years later, that vision continues to resonate. The chair manages to feel both luxurious and approachable, sculptural yet deeply comfortable.

For collectors and design enthusiasts, rosewood examples like this represent an important chapter in modern design history—when experimentation with new materials, manufacturing techniques, and bold aesthetics reshaped how furniture could be made and experienced.

This piece will be restored to excellent vintage condition, structurally sound, comfortable, and ready for daily use, while preserving the authenticity and character that make vintage Eames chairs so compelling.

At Hobbs Modern, we believe pieces like this are more than furniture—they are living design history, meant to be lived with, napped on, appreciated, and passed down.

Details

Designer: Charles & Ray Eames

Manufacturer: Herman Miller

Model: 670 Lounge Chair & 671 Ottoman

Production:Mid -1980s (Third Generation)

Materials: Brazilian rosewood veneer shells, molded plywood, black leather upholstery, aluminum base