Eames house bird story

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As the story goes, in the s Charles and Ray Eames pulled a piece of folk art - a simplistic black bird - from their own living room and styled it into a photograph with a group of Eames DKR chairs. The Eames' House Bird rose to fame and the rest is history. This iconic black bird circa with tapered beak and sleek tail was one of their most prized objects of folk art. In cooperation with the Eames family, design powerhouse Vitra used 3-D scans of the original to create the solid alder wood reproduction. Current Stock:. Quantity: Decrease Quantity: Increase Quantity:.

Eames house bird story

This husband and wife team from Henry, Illinois, passed on their gun repair business to their son in the s and dedicated themselves to carving and painting bird decoys for hunters. A simple black bird Perdew carved around became a highly sought-after model by quite a different audience in the s, primarily for its minimal shape and dark color. It was popularized by Charles and Ray Eames, who acquired one on their travels in the Appalachian mountains. The wooden bird became a center piece of the Eames living room and soon started to make an appearance in many of their product photo-shoots. It can even be seen in a cover of the Architectural Review , a solid shape among a grid created by Eames chairs. Realizing the broad appeal of this simple decorative piece, Vitra has recently started reproducing them by creating 3D scans of the original. However, unlike Perdew's versions, which were mostly carved out of pine, the Vitra version is made of solid alder with a black lacquer finish and steel wire legs. Its reappearance has brought the little black bird back to many mid-century inspired homes, where it often perches on top of furniture, elegant and unobtrusive at the same time. The Eames House Bird is made of solid alder with a black lacquer finish and steel wire legs. Image courtesy of Vitra. Photo by Gregory Miller. The Eames House Bird has become a popular decorative item in many mid-century inspired homes. Image courtesy of DWR. Subscribe Sign In. The bird makes an appearance in the Eames living room.

Acquired during their travels through the Appalachian mountain region of the eastern United States, the bird is an artefact of traditional American Folk Art.

Main building of Case Study House no. One of 26 'Case Study Houses' that became finished homes, the program was designed to fuse new and progressive architecture with real need for inexpensive housing in the post war USA. The construction was essentially two separate boxes, made from a combination of steel frame, glass, panels and a concrete base. Some remark on the visual design of the building as having influences from the works of Mondrian , the 20th century Dutch artist with the distinctive style. Others are quick to point out the similarity of the design to that of the ESU , the storage range that housed customized colored panels, cross struts and a frame of steel. The two structures consisted of living quarters and a working studio, a remarkably insightful feature that encouraged the separation of one from one's work yet enabled it to be close enough as to never stem the tide of inspiration, whenever it may occur.

Main building of Case Study House no. One of 26 'Case Study Houses' that became finished homes, the program was designed to fuse new and progressive architecture with real need for inexpensive housing in the post war USA. The construction was essentially two separate boxes, made from a combination of steel frame, glass, panels and a concrete base. Some remark on the visual design of the building as having influences from the works of Mondrian , the 20th century Dutch artist with the distinctive style. Others are quick to point out the similarity of the design to that of the ESU , the storage range that housed customized colored panels, cross struts and a frame of steel. The two structures consisted of living quarters and a working studio, a remarkably insightful feature that encouraged the separation of one from one's work yet enabled it to be close enough as to never stem the tide of inspiration, whenever it may occur. Whilst we may never know the full extent of the work produced at the house studio, as opposed to the nearby Venice site of the original Eames Office , it is safe to say that a good degree of Charles and Ray Eames legacy was undoubtedly produced there. It is one thing to create a house so unique, so minimalist, but it is certainly another task to turn that house into a home. What matters most is never the material, but the very souls of those whom reside in it, the people. The bits and pieces that they collect, create, or change over time, are not just objects or indeed visual clues of wealth, but the legacy and reflection of those that wanted to be surrounded by them.

Eames house bird story

This option is not currently available based on your selections. Please make changes to your selections. Design is for living. That maxim shaped a widespread shift in design during the s and '50s. It was a revolution of form, an exciting visual language that signaled a new age and a fresh start — and two of its prime movers were Charles and Ray Eames.

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The Eames House is awash with objects from far flung travels, gifts from long lost friends and from nature too. The Eames bird makes an appearance on the cover of a issue of Architectural Record. Realizing the broad appeal of this simple decorative piece, Vitra has recently started reproducing them by creating 3D scans of the original. More Information. Vitra began to reproduce the bird for the general market in a semi-matte black painted Adler wood. Birds often symbolised freedom and friendship, and with its tapered beak and sleek tail, this graceful figure certainly has a spirited, friendly presence. Its reappearance has brought the little black bird back to many mid-century inspired homes, where it often perches on top of furniture, elegant and unobtrusive at the same time. The objects of Charles and Ray are visible for all to see, are numerous and capture the very essence of whom they were, not as the legendary designing duo, but as two people sharing a home. Charles Eames was an American designer and innovator who pioneered new techniques, such as the fibreglass and plastic resin moulding and wire mesh frames. Not everyone has been lucky enough to visit the Eames House in California and hear the origins and mystery of the bird. Last Updated February 8, From carved whales and shells from the sea, to vases, pots, figurines of ceramic and wood. Let's turn our attention to the work of Charles Perdew to we can perhaps begin to understand one of the plausible alternative theories to the origin of the Eames House Bird. Customer Reviews Item s.

Charles and Ray Eames enriched the collage-like interior of their private home, the Eames House, with numerous objects and accessories that they brought back from their travels.

There is also no mention of its roots, of Perdew, of the Crow Decoys. Reviews 1. The original black wooden bird is thought to have been created by Charles Perdew in approximately It was popularized by Charles and Ray Eames, who acquired one on their travels in the Appalachian mountains. It arrived, it mesmerized us, and then it was gone, flown as quick as we could blink our eyes. Each of them is unique, each of them handmade and each tells a story, and this is what makes them special. The Humble Blackbird There is one eames 'thing' that doesn't stand with the rest, but rather proudly waits, inconspicuously sitting atop a beautiful vintage textile rug. Visitors lucky enough to visit the Eames House, which today serves as a 'time stood still' museum, will hear the curated origins of this treasured blackbird. A simple black bird Perdew carved around became a highly sought-after model by quite a different audience in the s, primarily for its minimal shape and dark color. The Eames House Bird is made of solid alder with a black lacquer finish and steel wire legs. Others are quick to point out the similarity of the design to that of the ESU , the storage range that housed customized colored panels, cross struts and a frame of steel. They were able to mould the plastics into organic shapes that followed the shape of the body. It was however, only the start of the evolution of the bird, with much more to come! Its reappearance has brought the little black bird back to many mid-century inspired homes, where it often perches on top of furniture, elegant and unobtrusive at the same time.