Eames House Bird

Charles and Ray Eames enriched the collage-like interior of their private home, the Eames House, with numerous objects and accessories that they brought back from their travels. For over seventy years, the figure of a wooden bird has stood in the centre of the living room – an artefact that was evidently highly treasured by the couple, since it also appeared frequently as an accessory in photographs taken by Charles and Ray. In addition to the classic black lacquered version made of solid alder, the Eames House Bird is also available in walnut.
The versions stained in dark green or pale rose are part of the Eames Special Collection 2023 and were only available until the end of January 2024.

Ray and Charles Eames were both trained in the arts, with Ray having studied painting under Hans Hoffman and Charles studying architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. Their joint collaborations began at Cranbook Academy of Art, soon leading to experimental work in molded plywood products. After they married in 1941, they moved to Los Angeles and worked closely with Evans Products Company to produce a leg splint design for the war effort. Their new funding allowed them to explore furniture design, resulting in their molded plywood furniture for Herman Miller in the mid 1940s. Countless innovations followed including modular shelving, fiberglass furniture, and cast aluminum chairs, all of which are icons today. Their genius extended to film (such as Powers of Ten), graphic design, and exhibition design as well, often working with IBM.