OVER 60% OFF RRP £4,570 | VITRA EA219 Soft Pad Group by Charles and Ray Eames | Leather, Executive Chair
The EA219 office chair is part of the Soft Pad Group by Charles and Ray Eames. Its dignified aura makes it especially suited for management areas. The extraordinary comfort of the chair results from the combined effect of the tilt mechanism, which can be adjusted to the user's weight, and the soft fabric- or leather-covered upholstery. The higher backrest of EA 219 distinguishes it from other Soft Pad models.
The design of the Soft Pad Group dates from the year1969. In terms of both construction and shape, the Soft Pad Chairs are similar to the design of the Aluminium Group. However, their sewn-on cushions create a striking contrast to the slender aluminium profiles. The Soft Pad Chairs are softer and more voluptuous than the chairs in the Aluminium Group, but without losing the clean clarity of their common silhouette. The chairs adapt to the body of the sitter and provide extraordinary comfort.
Charles Eames once said: ‘I think of our work as essentially that of tradesmen – the tools we use are often connected with the arts but we use them to solve problems which are assigned or we discern’ Vitra is committed to upholding this approach and regards the Eames Aluminium Chairs not just as a classic design, but as an entire design concept for industrial manufacturing with elements of handcraftsmanship. Only in this way can the quality be achieved that allows Vitra to offer a 30-year guarantee on all of the chair models in the Aluminium Group.
Design history:
The Eames’ constructed their chairs with cast aluminium and a seat frame meant to support a stretched synthetic mesh. The seat-back suspension was a major technical achievement and represented a departure from the concept of the chair as a solid shell.
The first Aluminium Group chairs were created in 1958. In 1969, the Eames’ extended the original design by adding plush, individually upholstered cushions. They named these the Soft Pad chairs. The chairs’ simple lines, innovative use of materials, and suspension comfort have kept them among the most popular seating choices for both offices and homes for more than 50 years.
Today, Vitra uses virtually the same manufacturing and assembly process that was originally developed by the Eames Office to produce these chairs, with the exception of a few improvements adapting it to today’s technical specifications. On average it takes six highly trained and experienced Vitra employees a total of 60 minutes to assemble an Eames Soft Pad Group chair.
The longevity of Vitra products is the combined result of their design, function and quality. Vitra products are designed and developed in Switzerland. The products are manufactured in Germany and other European countries with EU-sourced components, using materials that are strictly tested for quality and longevity. Please note: Vitra will not honour warranty unless bought from them directly, but the 30-year warranty they offer shows the inherent quality of the product.
Investing in authentic classics that will remain relevant over decades contributes to appealing office environments and generates a sense of home. The longevity of these iconic pieces also reflects a company’s vision of sustainability – a key factor in attracting and retaining talent.
High-quality workspaces outfitted with timeless furnishings promote employee well-being, while also fostering an emotional connection with the organisation’s values and culture.
Just as these designs forgo stylistic trends and eliminate superfluous details, a workspace furnished with classics remains fresh despite passing fashions and changing workstyles. More home-like than the typical contract pieces, they also elevate the office interior by creating a refined environment with enduring appeal. The EA219 chairs are the quintessential solution for meeting venues. They are found in countless finely furnished offices, conference spaces and meeting rooms around the globe.
It is extraordinary how a chair designed in 1969 as outdoor seating still manages to look both classic and contemporary in twenty-first century interiors. The chairs’ clean, trim lines make them appropriate for all kinds of places, from classic and contemporary homes to elegant offices to hip start-ups. The Eames Soft Pad chair has also found its way into popular culture, and appeared in a number of movies including The Holiday (2006), Mad Men (2007), Suits (2011), Her (2013), and The Gentlemen (2019). The eras portrayed in above mentioned movies span from the 1970s' up to the near future, representing the timeless design of this chair.
Item description:
This is an original, Swiss Vitra, by Ray and Charles Eames; they gave their design an innovative suspension that creates a firm, flexible “sitting pocket” that conforms subtly to the body’s shape. They created that suspension by stretching a continuous piece of seat-back upholstery tautly between lightweight aluminium side ribs. With one-piece, curved aluminium side ribs and die-cast aluminium base, the chair is strong yet lightweight and easy to move. The foam cushions of Soft Pad chairs will not flatten or clump over time. Pneumatic lift and tilt lock are also found on this model, classed as management/executive model.
This model has been lightly used but as pictures show, it is in exquisite condition.
Specification:
Dimensions:
Due to their popularity the Eames Soft Pad Group chairs are subject to unlicensed production. The market is flooded with replica Eames chairs, which might seem identical to the real ones at first sight, but lack in quality. Replicas never match the quality of original chairs. The EA219 is one of the most popular models by Vitra, but it is also the most copied.
This is an authentic Vitra unit for the following reasons:
1) There is the sown in Eames label on the back of the chair, bearing the signature of Charles Eames, with the words “The authorized original Vitra”
2) On the back of the seat, one can see that the seat spreader has no screws on either side; this is very often the case with copies, as they do not have the same technology used by Vitra to manufacture these chairs
3) An Eames sticker on the seat base, with part numbers
Invest in an original, for it will always retain its worth. An imitation will never be anything but a copy, a stolen idea. Appreciate the differences – not just the quality and more obvious variances but also the sensory and emotional appeal of the authentic product. An original is a lifelong companion and may well outlive you to be gratefully received by the next generation.
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