HOST: In the 20th century, Modernism was a dramatic departure from the past. It was a movement that embraced technology and the use of new materials. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, ROADSHOW got to check out the production of a classic piece of modern furniture: the Eames 670 lounge chair. Brand new, ready to go. May I try? Oh, that's nice. After World War II, American furniture companies became the market leaders, and Herman Miller of West Michigan was one of the top modern furniture producers in the world. ROADSHOW met up with John Sollo at the Grand Rapids Public Museum to check out a vintage Eames chair.
HOST: This chair is absolutely one of the classic modern designs of all time. It's a Charles and Ray Eames 670 lounge chair. The first year this was designed was 1956. I was at the factory today, and I watched a new version of this chair come right off the assembly line, and at least from my eye, it's very difficult to tell the difference between a vintage version of this chair and what's coming out today.
APPRAISER: First of all, this chair is labeled on the bottom. It says "January 5, 1978." The ones in the 1960s have a round label about the size of a quarter that says "Herman Miller" on it. Up to about 1970, they used a feather, a down interior. After that, they used foam. This one has the foam, so we know it's a little bit later production. This piece is made out of molded plywood. It has a rosewood veneer. Today, they use much more environmentally friendly woods. It's one of the ways we know it's a vintage piece.
HOST: Let's talk about value: a vintage Eames 670 as opposed to a brand new one.
APPRAISER: The values are very similar. If you look at vintage pieces, retail, they usually bring between $3,000 and $4,000. I believe that the new pieces that Herman Miller is selling today sell for about $3,600 to $4,600, so they're very similar. A lot of people want to buy vintage pieces. They have a vintage house, they want to have a vintage piece to fit in with it. When we think about modern design, especially modern design in America, this chair is as good as it gets. It's right at the top.
HOST: It's a modern American classic, and thank you for showing us this great Herman Miller modern furniture right here in western Michigan.
APPRAISER: Thank you very much.
