Charles and Ray Eames Lounge Chair and Rio rosewood ottoman, Mobilier International edition

The Eames Lounge Chair by Mobilier International, an icon produced in France

When Charles and Ray Eames presented the Model 670 in 1956, their ambition could be summed up in one sentence: to offer the comfort of an old English club chair in a resolutely modern vocabulary. Three molded plywood shells, a swiveling seat, generously upholstered leather, and the chair immediately became a manifesto. It has never left production since.

The European distribution of the model was handled by several licensed manufacturers. In France, Mobilier International produced it for several decades, from the 1960s to the early 1990s. These French examples share the same proportions and design as the American production, but feature assembly and finishing specific to the French workshop, which are now sought after by collectors. An Eames Lounge Chair by Mobilier International can be identified by its round manufacturer's stamp, affixed under the shell, and its manufacturing code stamped into the wood.

A 1991 model, at the end of French production

The set presented here bears the code F.3.91, consistent with a 1991 production date, and two Mobilier International stamps, one on the armchair and the other on the ottoman. It therefore belongs to the last French series, those produced just before the end of this production period. The fact that the armchair and its footstool have remained a matched set since the beginning, with their respective markings, is far from the norm on the market: complete and documented sets have become increasingly rare.

Rio rosewood, a signature of historical editions

The three shells are veneered in Rio rosewood, an emblematic wood from the early decades of the model's production. Its deep grain, alternating warm browns and almost graphic dark lines, contrasts with the matte black leather and gives the chair its distinctive presence. The photographs of the backrest particularly well illustrate this wood grain, as well as the laminated plywood edge, which reveals the molding technique developed by the Eameses. It is this combination of materials—Rio rosewood and black leather—that makes the most sought-after version of the Eames Lounge Chair by Mobilier International.

Technical characteristics

The set comprises the Model 670 armchair, mounted on its black lacquered aluminum star base with polished tips, and the Model 671 ottoman on a four-star base. The armchair swivels on its axis; the backrest and headrest are connected by metal plates, and the upholstered armrests attach to the seat shell. The cushions are tufted and buttoned according to the original design.

Chair dimensions: H 85 × W 85 × D 83 cm (H 33.5 × W 33.5 × D 32.7 in).

Conservation state

This Eames Lounge Chair by Mobilier International is in excellent overall condition. The leather has been completely redone by a professional upholsterer, using vintage smooth leather, and is in perfect condition: neat button tufting, buttons in place, even stitching and piping, and no cracks. The rosewood shells and legs are original and retain their patina, with the expected signs of wear on the feet and star. This approach—restoring the upholstery while leaving the wood and metal in their original state—preserves the piece's authenticity while making it immediately usable for everyday use.

With this model, everything hinges on the details of the edition. A complete Eames Lounge Chair by Mobilier International, with its two original stamps, its legible manufacturing code, and its Rio rosewood shells, belongs to a much more exclusive category than the generic lounge chairs one usually encounters. We particularly appreciate the approach taken with the restoration: the leather has been expertly reupholstered, restoring the chair's comfort and shape, while the wood has been left untouched, still bearing witness to its thirty years of use. This is precisely the balance collectors seek, between a piece of history and a seat for everyday use.

The team The Auctionlab