Revival Furniture
Categories: Inspiration, Things We Love, Trend Watch
Tags: Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Mid Century Chairs
Timeless, early modern furniture continues to flourish our homes and favorite restaurants. We commonly pay tribute to Charles and Ray Eames for pioneering modern, industrial design in the 1940’s and 50’s. Their designs called for the use of simple materials, including molded fiberglass, plastic and plywood. But where did their revolutionary design aesthetic stem from?
Unconventional, avant-garde Finnish designers Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) and Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) struck and infused Charles Eames’ creative journey and design process and continue to inspire designers today.
Eero Saarinen, greatly influenced by sculpture, evolved the delicate balance between prominent aesthetic and original structural form. His eloquent use of material, form and color claimed him international recognition.
Saarinen’s 1948 Womb Chair
Eero Saarinen 1956 Tulip Chair
1956 Tulip Chair seen with Tulip Pedestal
Eero Saarinen’s 1957 Executive Chair with Tulip Pedestal
The master of sensual detailing, Alvar Aalto, challenged inimitable functionalism with an ingenious design aesthetic and style. Driven by the International style, he married his design concepts and forms to site location, materials and its occupants. Aalto’s utilization of molded plywood stimulated Charles Eames creative exploration and material use.
Alvar Aalto Furniture Collection
Alvar Aalto’s 1937 Lounge Chair 43
Alvar Aalto’s 1933 armchair 402 (bent birch plywood, upholstery)
And, of course, there is the iconic work of Eames…
Charles and Ray Eames 1946 LCW chair (Lounge Chair Wood) molded plywood lounge chair
Collection of Charles and Ray Eames chairs
Eames Baha Rocker, Fiberglass Shell
Eames Baha Rocker
Charles and Ray Eames’ 1956 Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671) Brazilian rosewood veneers constructed with 5 layers of plywood
To learn more about the Revival of the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic in today’s design vernacular, please visit the Perspectives section of the Charles Luck website, view this video and visit us again on Tuesday, April 14th to preview a new stone collection inspired by Saarinen and Aalto.
