How to Date an Eames Lounger

Look for a label affixed to the bottom of the lounge seat. Chairs manufactured between 1956 and the 1970s have a round white and gold Herman Miller label. A black rectangular Herman Miller label was used between the 1970s and the 1990s. Chairs manufactured since the 1990s have a silver rectangular Herman Miller label.

Identify the type of wood used on the shell of the lounge. The original Eames lounge chairs and ottomans were veneered in Brazilian rosewood. According to Herman Miller, rosewood was discontinued in 1991 due to environmental concerns. Since 1991, Eames chairs have been manufactured in walnut, cherry and palisander, a wood similar to rosewood but not as intensely colored.

Examine the stuffing used in the cushions, if possible. Original cushions from 1956 and the next few years were filled with 100 percent down and duck feathers. After that, most chairs were stuffed with a mixture of foam and down feathers until about 1971. Since then, Eames lounge chairs and ottomans have been filled with a mixture of foam and fiber fill.

Locate the clips that hold the cushions to the wooden shells. If they are circular and silver in color, your chair was manufactured before 1971. Chairs made since 1971 have long, thin, black clips.

Examine the foot glides on the matching ottoman, if you have it. The earliest ottomans have rubber boot-like glides that push on instead of the later adjustable, screw-in glides.

Count the number of screws holding the armrests to the body of the chair. According to Bradley Downs, 1956 production chairs can be identified by the existence of three screws securing the armrests. Later on, two screws were used.