Wood grain. It is beautiful right?

When you think of a lounge chair what comes to mind? Is it a big comfy lazy boy recliner? How about a plush high back with bronze studs?

When Charles and Ray Eameses designed their iconic 670/671 lounge chair and ottoman in 1956 they wanted it to have the “warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”. For some of us, that feeling of a broken-in Wrigley or Rawlings baseball mitt is a feeling we could never shake, nor would we want to.

Charles and Ray Eameses were prominent architects during the mid 20th century. This husband-wife duo pioneered the use of molded plywood to create many iconic furniture pieces still in use today. Arguably their most popular and lasting piece is known as the Eameses Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671).

The chair and ottoman are made of curved plywood with a wood veneer that is shaped under heat and pressure. Although this may sound like a cheap mass production method of creating furniture we can’t overlook the subtle architectural designs and beautiful simplicity of the wood grain and leather upholstery.

The backrest and head rest are proportional in size. The seat and the ottoman also share the same proportions. This iconic piece of furniture has gone through numerous material and hardware upgrades, but the proportions and wood curves remain true to its original design.

So popular were these mid-century modern masterpieces they soon became infamous backdrops on televisions shows such as Fraiser. And while this chair is pushing 60 years old it can still be bought today through popular and well-respected furniture outlets such as Herman Miller and Vitra. It is a symbol of luxury and status….that’ll cost you a whopping $5,295.