Eames LCW Chair, Eames LCW Plywood Chair

Quick Intro

What is an Eames plywood LCW lounge chair?

From the first of the plywood series, the abbreviated Eames LCW Chair was the Lounge Height (L) Side Chair (C) on Wood (W) Base. Designed by Charles Eames and first manufactured by the Evans Molded Plywood Division, the chair has long gained classic status.

The techniques used to make these unique chairs had been developed during the war years and was evident in the Eames Splint, made for and utilized by the US Navy. The Eames LCW Plywood Chair is constructed of five layers of plywood, glued and heated using a specialist machine, in order to bend the wood into the form of the design.

By 1946, four plywood adult chairs had been developed for market release as well as the child's nested chair. The Eames LCW Side Chair had a dining height sister chair (DCW) and the two were replicated with metal bases in the DCM and LCM. The group as a whole would soon become known as the ‘Eames Chairs’ and was marketed as such through the early 50’s.

The LCW was a wonderful fusion of five separate molded plywood forms. The support was made up of two curved legs of different sizes and a formed spine. The back rest and seat were then fixed to the support via rubber shock mounts kept largely from view. The result was a chair of visual beauty and something of a revelation for the post war period.

The LCW was first developed between Charles Eames and the Evans Molded Plywood Division. Herman Miller was drafted in to distribute the furniture in 1947 and later went on to buy the rights and operation to the whole catalog in 1949, a start of an amazing design partnership.

The LCW was available in varying wood veneers and colors. The very basic upholstery of the early versions would soon be updated by Herman Miller’s involvement, especially with the designs of Alexander Girard.

As the 1950’s moved on and new designs and materials became fashionable, the demand for plywood furniture slowed. Herman Miller kept the DCM and LCM on the books but sadly the LCW was discontinued in 1957 but re-commissioned in 1994 and remains available today.

The Charles & Ray Eames Plywood LCW Lounge Chair - A Video Introduction

A video introduction to one of the earliest Charles and Ray Eames success stories, the Plywood LCW Chair. First manufactured by Evans Molded Plywood in 1946, Herman Miller took over distribution a year later and production by 1949. The video showcases a later edition Walnut veneer LCW that is entirely sympathetic to the original 1946 design which has changed very little since. Herman Miller discontinued the LCW in 1957 but thankfully re-introduced them as part of the 'Home Classics' range in 1994, using a variety of wood finishes since then.

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Specification

What are the original sizes of the lounge LCW plywood Side Chair?

Height	27.375”	69.53 cm
Width	22.25”	56.52 cm
Depth	25.375”	64.45 cm
Seat Height	15.25”	38.74 cm

The Materials that went into producing the Eames LCW plywood chair are:

Top	5 Layers of Molded Plywood, glued and with Rubber Shock Mounts
Base	5 Layers of Molded Plywood, 2 molded leg pieces
Feet	None, alu feet

Generations

It is necessary to point out that 'generations' of furniture designs don't actually exist in the form of intentional changes with the very pre-meditated thought that they will be used in the future for the aid of authenticating, ageing and valuing.

Generations happened naturally, as normal tweaks and an evolution of a design, perhaps even down to availability of parts as well as designated improvement. We interpret the most important changes and form them as 'generations' in order to help classify for the buyer, seller and collector.

The 5-2-5 screw pattern of the first generation LCW with Evans label is present

1st Generation - Evans Plywood Products

The easiest method to spot the first generation LCW is find one of the Evans labels, if they are surviving, which will be the medal, paper or foil labels.

Look for the 1st generation screw pattern, with seat face down is five two five (5-2-5), only found on this generation

The screws at the top are always wood screws, with shockmount bolts making up the rest of the 2 and bottom 5 combination.

The first generations are rarely found with upholstery in leather, fabric or slunk skin (calf hide)

Oval large shock mount of the first generation of LCW plywood chairs

1st Generation - Evans Plywood Products - Continued

Evans versions of the LCW did not have any additional feet attached the ends of the wooden legs. Extra feet found on these versions may not be original.

The LCW first generation has a long shaped oval shock mount for the back rest to spine section of the chair.

Some of the very early versions of the plywood LCW were laminated in Melamine in order to preserve it during use however it was found to react with sunlight and turn white.

Early Evans examples can also be found in dyed aniline colors of red and black. Estimated 1946-1950

2nd Generation Herman Miller 5-2-4 screw pattern

2nd Generation - (1st Herman Miller Gen)

Herman Miller purchased the rights of the plywood LCW chair in 1949 and by 1950 was beginning to produce their own versions of the design.

The initial refinements to the design were subtle but one of the easy changes to spot was the changing of the screw pattern to a five two four combination (5-2-4).

This new screw pattern alongside one of the Herman Miller labels will show a second generation piece. Labels include the foil strip, half board and medallion.

The small circular aluminum feet of the second generation LCW

2nd Generation - (1st Herman Miller Gen) - Continued

The other indicator of a second generation LCW (first Herman Miller) version is the addition of small aluminum feet to the base of the plywood leg sections.

Herman Miller kept the oval shock mounts of the Evans version as well as the dyed red and black and upholstered version but introduced some new options of their own.

The LCW 2nd generation was cancelled from the catalog in 1957 due to falling sales.

Estimated years 1950 - 1957

The post 1994 re-issue 3rd generation LCW with two circular back rest mounts

3rd Generation - (2nd Herman Miller Gen) -

In 1994 Herman Miller re-issued the LCW chair to the marketplace.

The most obvious change, apart from modern labels, is the changing of the large oval shock mount to two separate circular ones on the back rest.

Herman Miller has made the LCW available in differing wood types since the re-release including oak, ash and Santos Palisander as well as a degree of upholsteries.

Years 1994 - Present

Buying Tips and Authenticity

Is my Eames LCW authentic? What makes it valuable?

The best way to authenticate an LCW is if the original label is still present on the chair. Vintage versions will likely be Evans medal, paper or foil labels and strip foil and medallion Herman Miller versions. Copy Evans foil transfer labels have been identified so do look out for signs. They may appear too new or the red may be more orange than red. Generally the repro labels have been used where a real genuine label is missing rather than an attempt to deceive.
Post 1994 labels are much more likely to be still present due to them being adhesive Herman Miller versions. All versions, vintage and new should have 5 ply thickness on the seat and back and 8 on the legs.
Vintage LCW's should have clear ageing and signs of use, newer versions less so. Older aniline dyed versions will often appear faded as well.
The very earliest LCW chairs by Evans and first Herman Miller ones may have the model written on the underside of the seat or on the label. This was to aid the assembly of the order. For a period Herman Miller also stamped the abbreviated name into the wood underside.
Since the re-launch by Herman Miller in 1994, the colored versions were solid painted colors rather than dyed. Dyed versions were brought out again since only approximately 2010.

The value of an LCW is generally based on its age first, then condition and wood/upholstery variant. The earlier Evans versions do command a higher 'historical' value and those with early upholstery such as leather, or slunk skin will be even higher - all dependent on condition.
Check the solidity of the shock mounts. Those breaking or coming away will likely need to be full replaced. Those with fully original mounts and parts are considered more authentic and yield a higher value. Do look out for early Evans or Herman Miller versions that have been incorrectly repaired with two back mounts instead of the one oval version.
Value can be impacted with the condition of the plywood veneer. The edges are especially susceptible so check those thorough and look out for attempts of re-gluing old cracks or breaks.
Early upholstered versions are especially valuable so check them for rips and tears as they will impact the value greatly.
It is also important to check the overall build of an LCW. Get a good idea for it and look to see if all parts appear natural to each other (color, fitting edges, lines of previous parts) because it is not unheard of for 'Frankenstein' chairs to have been created with the parts of various donor chairs.