Alu Group 'Ribbed' Lounge Chairs

Part of the 'Aluminum Group' and released in 1958, the Eames Aluminum Lounge Chair was arguably the first to be made in the material and was originally designed to function as both an indoor and outdoor chair. Initially released as models 681 (no arms) and 682 (with arms) the aluminum group lounge chair has seen a degree of changes (and indeed code numbers) over the years.

The use of Aluminum, a non-corrosive metal, for the frame was combined with a revolutionary new material called ‘Saran’ which was designed to also resist the outside world. But as we all know, little can survive the power of Mother Nature and the chair was soon marketed as a solely indoor piece, something which remained the same for many years until Herman Miller once again released an outdoor version recently.

The Eames Alu Lounge Chair was produced in a remarkably quick time-period; with work beginning in 1957 the chair was in production by 1958, a feat Don Albinson, the chief developer of the chair at the Eames Office, said was rather remarkable considering the work the chair required to be developed. Utilizing ‘sand-casting’ to produce the aluminum sides and ‘spacers’ the chair is finished by using a single piece of upholstery which is machine stretched over, and kept extremely taught, a job which required new techniques to perfect.

The first chairs of the Alu Group range were offered in either this lounger, with or without arms, a recliner with headrest or a dining/easy chair as well as the matching ottoman. They were available in two Saran fabrics as well as vinyl Naugahyde and later would be released in Leather and plastic mesh. By the third generation in 1985, the options available for the Alu Lounger had reduced from 4 variants down to a single one.

• The Alu Group has been widely copied by reproduction makers, especially over the last 15 years in the far east. The good news is however that it is very easy to determine authenticity thanks to a number of checks you can perform.
• All Alu Group chairs have a label or stamp. The early pieces were all stamped with patent pending/patent number/model number directly into the casting of the alu frame. It gets a little more difficult through the 80's and 90's where sticker labels were used but then easier into the 2000's when fabric labels were introduced. Labels and stamps are the best source of authenticity as reproduction makers do not copy with the intent of 'passing off'.
• Almost 90% of the copies that are found actually use chrome instead of the brushed Alu. These tend to emulate the chrome used by European maker Vitra as opposed to the duller Alu finish.
• Almost all copies use the later universal base in either 4 or 5 star formats. This makes early vintage pedestal versions much more likely to be authentic with or without labels.
• As well as brushed Alu, the chairs were available in black finish and what was termed aubergine (a dark grey/black). White frame models became available only recently.

• Condition is the most likely overriding factor of value on an Alu Group Lounge eames chair.  The condition of the upholstery primarily is most important. Check for rips and tears and major sagging. With fabric look at stains and marks to determine whether they really can be cleaned. Naugahyde finish can often still be great but look out for punctures and lateral cuts - all of which lower a value considerably. Remember that Alu Group material is machine stretched and this prevents mainstream re-upholsterers from being able to recover them.
• Whereas age should be an indicator to value (and there is demand for the 1st generation versions) the introduction of leather much later in the life of these chairs has presented an anomaly. Clearly leather is a much more valuable and desirable finish and this means later chairs can often be more valuable than the early ones despite their overall desirability being higher.
• Always look on the arms for cracking of the coating. Herman Miller coated elements of the Aluminum in plastic. The arms were coated not for protection but to make the metal 'not cold' when in contact with the user's arm. It's use was really a design flaw in the long term life of the chairs. It does detriment the value because to repair you need to either professionally remove the lacquer or find replacement arms, all of which will cost.