Charles and Ray Eames Pkw-2 Pivoting K-Wire Wood Base Side Chair, Eames Herman Miller, Bikini, Seng

Product Details

Product Description

Eames chairs are incredibly common nowadays, to the point where they're almost ubiquitous. However, some versions of these chairs are rarer and more special than others, making them highly sought-after collector's items. One such version is the Ray & Charles Eames side chair, known as "PKW-2," which features a pivoting wire chair on a wooden base. There are two versions of this chair - version 1 has a fully covered seat, while version 2 has a cut-out "bikini" cover that reveals the wire mesh construction underneath. This version is also referred to as the "bikini swivel wire chair." We have a black and a white PKW-2 chair in our collection, both of which were originally imported from the US as a pair to Europe before being sold to different customers. We bought the white chair years ago as the first piece in our Eames 1st Generation Collection, and were lucky enough to find and purchase the black chair later on, thus reuniting the pair. Together, they make impressive and rare art objects that would complement any mid-century design collection. Interestingly, the dowel-leg version of the chair was discontinued after 1954, as the open ball-bearing connection and thin wooden legs were not very practical. When weight and power were applied while swivelling, cracks or breakages could occur, making the chairs potentially dangerous to use. Nonetheless, they remain functional and showcase a wonderful patina that adds to their charm and character, making them excellent pieces to admire and understand the thinking behind the design. This set of two side chairs comprises a white powder-coated wire shell with a cognac-coloured leather bikini cover, and a black powder-coated wire shell with a slightly faded cognac-coloured leather bikini cover. They were produced by Herman Miller Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan around 1950/1951, and are presented in a nice manner.

Additional Product Details

GLINT Verified is our own designation and means that we inspect every item, every time.

Payment options

Guaranteed safe & secure checkout powered by Stripe