> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 50 Reinterpretations of the Eames Wire Chair - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/50-reinterpretations-of-the-eames-wire-chair/ - Published: 2015-12-11T03:50:23.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:58:53.000Z - Description: The French social and education arts organization La Source has partnered with Vitra Design Museum to invite artists, designers, and architects from around France to revisit the classic chair and add their own contemporary twists. - Author: Claire Voon - Tags: Art, Charles and Ray Eames, Design, Photo Essays, Vitra Design Museum, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:13 (2014, 2015, part 3) ![Designstudio, "Barbecue Eames" (all images courtesy La Source)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/1-barbecue-eames-by-5-5-designstudio-_c_-5-5-designstudio.jpg) Designstudio, “Barbecue Eames” (all images courtesy La Source) Charles and Ray Eames’s wire mesh chair, a signature piece of mid-century furniture, has received an update — or rather, 50 updates, as envisioned by 50 different creative types. The French social and education arts organization [La Source](http://www.associationlasource.fr/?ref=hyperallergic.com) has partnered with Vitra Design Museum to invite artists, designers, and architects from around France to revisit the classic chair and add their own contemporary twists. The new works, which will be on view at l’Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris this weekend, will go on sale at La Source’s 18th annual [charity auction](http://www.associationlasource.fr/index.php?option=com%5Fcontent&view=article&id=92:vente-aux-encheres&catid=39:nous-soutenir&Itemid=108&ref=hyperallergic.com) on December 14 to benefit the organization’s arts workshops for children facing familial, academic, or social difficulties. Previous editions of the sale have challenged artists to reinterpret Sori Yanagi’s [Butterfly Stool](http://www.designdaily.com.au/blog/2015/3/reinventing-the-sori-yanagi-butterfly-stool?ref=hyperallergic.com), Jean Prouvé’s [Standard Chair](http://www.vitra.com/en-un/product/standard?ref=hyperallergic.com), and Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec’s [metal side table](http://www.associationlasource.fr/index.php?option=com%5Fcontent&view=article&id=52:panda-kung-fu-warriors&catid=41:actus&Itemid=143/&ref=hyperallergic.com). ![42.A l amour toujours by PhilippeStarck 1 ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/42-a-l-amour-toujours-by-philippestarck-1-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Philippe Starck, “A l’Amour toujours” (© Hugo Miserey) (click to enlarge) The Eames Wire Chair, also known as the “DKR” — Dining height, K-wire shell, Rod iron base — was originally designed for the Museum of Modern Art’s 1948 “Low Cost Furniture Design” contest, [according](http://www.design-museum.de/en/collection/100-masterpieces/detailseiten/dkr-eames.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) to Vitra. Inspiration to use the thin industrial material came from Italian-born sculptor [Harry Bertoia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry%5FBertoia?ref=hyperallergic.com), who worked in the Eames’s office in the ’40s. Since 1958, Vitra has mass-produced the minimal, shell-like chair, now available with leather seat pads and in an [array](http://www.vitra.com/en-pl/product/wire-chair?ref=hyperallergic.com#t/tab-colors) of colors. For the auction, most of the artists — who include French designer [Philippe Starck](http://www.starck.com/en/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and luxury shoe designer [Christian Louboutin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian%5FLouboutin?ref=hyperallergic.com) — chose to give the seat wild updates, with some results so sculptural that they’re no longer functional. [Guillaume Delvigne](http://www.guillaumedelvigne.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)‘s “Gloriette” and sculptor [Quentin Garel](http://www.bdgny.com/artists/quentin-garel/?ref=hyperallergic.com)‘s “Flamingo,” for instance, twist the white wire chair into four-legged objects; on the other hand, Designstudio’s “Barbecue Eames” is made specifically for your next grilling function — just don’t sit on the seat, as it’s meant to heat up your meats. Many seemed to want to make the chair more comfortable, covering it with softer material. Architect [Jean-François Lesage](http://jeanfrancoislesage.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) — the son of couture embroider François Lesage and a frequent Loubotin collaborator — wove threads through the holes to create a colorful Madras pattern; Bruno Moinard wrapped his chair in a colorful, woolen jacket. Other creations highlight the holes of the original “DKR”: in a playful nod to this year’s [love locks ban](https://hyperallergic.com/in-place-of-love-locks-a-paris-bridge-gets-street-art/) at Paris’s Pont des Arts, Starck simply latched locks onto the wire frame, while designer [Ionna Vautrin](http://www.ionnavautrin.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)‘s “Gaufrette” covers the seat with a cushion that still reveals its crisscross frame. If you don’t live in France, you may place orders by phoning in, the auction’s organizers told us. La Source hasn’t announced the starting bids for the seats, but they would make some great gifts, just in time for the holiday season — whether your loved one needs a new office chair, a whimsical barbecue set, or a sculptural planter. ![16.Wild Wire by EdouardFrancois ©EdouardFrancois](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/16-wild-wire-by-edouardfrancois-_c_edouardfrancois.jpg) Edouard Francois, “Wild Wire” (© Edouard Francois) ![18.Flamingo by QuentinGarel ©QuentinGarel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/18-flamingo-by-quentingarel-_c_quentingarel.jpg) Quentin Garel, “Flamingo” ![14.Rope Chair by FranckEvennou ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/14-rope-chair-by-franckevennou-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Franck Evennou, “Rope Chair” (© Hugo Miserey) ![23.Pistil'Chair by MarianneGuedin 2 ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/23-pistilchair-by-marianneguedin-2-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Marianne Guedin, “Pistil Chair” (© Hugo Miserey) ![28.Coco Tweed – Madras Checks by JFLesage ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/28-coco-tweed---madras-checks-by-jflesage-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Jean-François Lesage, “Coco Tweed — Madras Checks” (© Hugo Miserey) ![34.De laine et d acier by BrunoMoinard ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/34-de-laine-et-d-acier-by-brunomoinard-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Bruno Moinard, “De laine et d’acier” (© Hugo Miserey) ![21.Tartan by AliceGavalet ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/21-tartan-by-alicegavalet-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Alice Gavalet, “Tartan” (© Hugo Miserey) ![India Mahdavi, "Lola Rasta Chair" (click to enlarge)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/31-lola-rasta-chair-by-indiamahdavi-1-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) India Mahdavi, “Lola Rasta Chair” ![46.Gaufrette by IonnaVautrin ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/46-gaufrette-by-ionnavautrin-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Ionna Vautrin, “Gaufrette” (© Hugo Miserey) ![3.Eames en String by FranklinAzzi ©franklinAzzi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/3-eames-en-string-by-franklinazzi-_c_franklinazzi.jpg) Franklin Azzi, “Eames en String” (© Franklin Azzi) ![27.Branz-Eames by MathieuLehanneur ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/27-branz-eames-by-mathieulehanneur-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Mathieu Lehanneur, “Branz-Eames” (© Hugo Miserey) ![45.Extension by AkselVarichon 1 ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/45-extension-by-akselvarichon-1-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Aksel Varichon, “Extension” (© Hugo Miserey) ![30.La chaise d honneur by ChristianLouboutin ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/30-la-chaise-d-honneur-by-christianlouboutin-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Christian Louboutin, “La chaise d’honneur” (© Hugo Miserey) ![22.Pablo by ChristianGhion ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/22-pablo-by-christianghion-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Christian Ghion, “Pablo” (© Hugo Miserey) ![37.Saint-Marcel by RegisR ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/37-saint-marcel-by-regisr-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Régis R, “Saint Marcel” (© Hugo Miserey) ![50.OP Chair by PierreYovanovitch ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/50-op-chair-by-pierreyovanovitch-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Pierre Yovanovitch, “OP Chair” (© Hugo Miserey) ![11.Gloriette by Guillaume Delvigne ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/11-gloriette-by-guillaume-delvigne-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Guillaume Delvigne, “Gloriette” (© Hugo Miserey) ![13.Wire plant by NoeDuchaufourLawarance ©HugoMiserey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/12/13-wire-plant-by-noeduchaufourlawarance-_c_hugomiserey.jpg) Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, “Wire plant” (© Hugo Miserey)