Labels and stamps can be the best and the quickest method of authenticating your Eames design. It may also help you to date and value your piece.
Since the very first Eames design was released to the marketplace, various manufacturers have used an array of Eames labels and stamps over the years, and this continues today.
Labelled examples of Eames designs always command a higher value than those where the labels are missing, even if authenticity is still ensured. This is due to the security buyers feel in the knowledge of purchasing a piece fully intact. Labels, along with other factors such as color, upholstery, wood type or age, are the highest driver of value.
Unlike labels which were used across all Eames designs, stamps were found only on the fiberglass shell chairs, spanning the years. The material lent itself for makers marks and logos to be included in the very mold from which they were created. Stamps are especially useful as they cannot detach or wear off like labels can.
Patent labels have an important role for collectors, buyers and sellers alike. On the face of it they appear to be nothing more than a series of numbers and useless content. They are however a really useful tool for narrowing down the age of the piece. They were generally used on shell and lounge chairs but also can be found on plywood pieces.
We have collated below the most commonly found Eames labels and stamps and researched them to estimate their age and application. Please note that we have only included the original US Eames design labels and stamps and have not included European licensed copies.
(Marketplace labels 1945 - present)
(Marketplace stamps 1956 - present)
(Patent labels used from late 1957 - 1989)
(Stamps and labels 1958 - present)