Original vintage
Are somewhat rare... The ones in the link look more recent to me... But the easiest way to tell is from the top.

The reproductions that I have seen on eBay look like crap. Proportions are not the same.


EDIT: I just looked at all the photos inside the listing and see that they are indeed original (or at least earlier) production.

Here's the same link
in the clickable box
http://cgi.ebay.com/EAMES-WALNUT-STOOLS-GENUINE-1960s-Origi2...

difference
but how can you tell the difference between the originals and the liscensed repros from this day and age.

Obviously the price, but they don't seem marked or labeled?

I've had both
... early vintage and more recent production. When you see either one in person you can tell. Generally, it's apparent from the wear and the warmer, mellow color to the wood if they are old. In fact, we have a vintage stool in our living room and a recent production in our showroom. If I remember, I'll bring the newer one home and photograph them side by side so you can see.

That said, if I did not have one, I would not hesitate to buy either. They are a great design and super useful. They can be a table, a stool, you can stand on them if you need to reach something up high... they are small and easy to tuck out of the way if need be. They have a playful, sculptural quality to them. I think they are just grand. Just don't use them as a plant stand. I've seen too many with horrible water rings in the top from over-watering a plant and having it spill over.

They are not marked in any fashion, but I don't think that I have ever seen anyone knocking them off. So it's more a matter of picking either a vintage or newer example. The design has never been changed, they are made of the same material by the same manufacturer. Here I have to relent on my "vintage is best" stance and say if you want one to use, does it really matter? If you don't treat a new one with kid gloves it will look vintage before too long.

Looking at the auction you link to, frankly I'm skeptical that those are really all that old. Most times there is more visible wear, certainly on the bottom. I don't think that I'd pay $2,354 each for two. New they cost $829. Seems like at auction in the US, nice vintage examples have brought between $900 and $1,200.

Knock-offs
There was a rash of knock-offs on eBay last year, from one or two sellers. I have not seen any listed in lately.... I think the eBay community cracked down on them. They looked pretty bad.

Here you go
Knock-off.
http://bit.ly/9XSd26

Check out how much they sold for!!!
The stool on the right has cracks to the joins and they have a lot of wear, yet they still sold for £6250 / $9369!!! WOW!!!

Seems like they always do well at christies?

They say they are original herman miller versions, but no date, just a design year.

They look a lot lighter than the new ones and personally, i think vintage is best! I like the wear to them, shows that they are genuine I think. New ones could look like repros...

Take a look here:

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5298575&sid=272d608c-7ec6-49b9-b541-04c1efbfca3a
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=saa...

Phew! for whoever won them!
They'd want to be genuine vintage considering how much they sold for! I think that they are definately worth it though, they are like sculptures, practical art?

I wish they were more affordable, or I was more wealthy, so I could have all 3, but it is probably a good thing they aren't as if you are lucky enough to have 1 or more, I'm sure most would cherish them like tropheys. If everything was easily accessable to everyone, they would become common and less special. We need special things!

But also in saying that, if a piece of furniture or design is beautiful and you love it, it shouldnt matter who its by and how much it costs.

I took the plunge...

I emailed the seller on ebay of the pair this post originally pertains to. I really want one.

I am hoping they will split them up and sell seperatly. I would LOVE to have both, even better a complete set, but purse strings are not that loose unfortunately!

I have requested some close up shots of any wear to them as I have noted what others have said about the age related wear, etc...

Would look fab next to my Eames lounge chair. I Saved up for ages and scoured the earth for a vintage example & a bargain. If the seller is prepared to split them, I will probably be paying more for the stool than the chair!

We'll see...

Hmmm
Both stools in the Time Life photo look a bit odd. Perhaps they were pre-production versions made specifically for the space...

Got detailed pictures from dealer
As promised, I requested the detailed close up of the stools originally in question...

They appear to be genuine vintage models alright.

Sadly the seller will not split them up and are for sale as a pair only. I understand why they wouldn't want to, but I cannot afford both :-(


">

If the first image
Is the top side, it looks right.

PS: Do you know anything about Eames Lounge chairs?
I have posted a thread about and Eames chair I just picked up and was wondering if you knew much about them?

Should be near the top of the forum thread, look out for SACRILEGE.

Thanks,

J

More pictures
for comparison...

Heath
I'll see if I can find out more. I'd only asked about the subtle variation I'd noticed when I'd seen the same shape stool side by side. It's minimal, but you can see it if you look closely. I'd noticed it mostly on the B shape stools with the bulbous shape in the center. I don't know how they are produced exactly. You do know that they are made in essentially 3 pieces. The top and bottom segments are the same for all three shapes while only the center section changes for the different designs.

Jinx,
There were other pre-production variations in addition to the one you noticed in that vintage photo. If you look at page 248 of the Eames Design book, you see another variation of the C shape. It only has two angular sections instead of three. On page 249 you'll also notice that the picture of the A shape stool is upside-down.

woodywood,
I don't think the flat lip you often see on the outside top edge is indicative of recent production. Look at the A shape stool on page 248 of the Eames book. It's a period photo with a pre-production stool also in the shot, but the A shape stool has that flat edge on the top. I think it's a fluke of production. Some have it, some don't.

Hi Pegboard...
Oh wouldnt you love to get your grubby mits all over a set of the pre-productions, or should I say white gloves! I love the design they settled on, but as we all know, and love the end design so much, it would be something truly special to possess the "prototype" versions!

I recently saw a dealer selling some odd looking Eames walnut stools, they just didnt look right to me and assumed that they were fake. I will dig around and see if I can find them again. The seller claimed they were vintage...

I wonder if any pre-productions somehow got out into the open market back then, as I have a feeling 1 of them looked like the 1st one on the left side of the picture.

Hmmmm...

Pegboard
I had read about the edge differences somewhere online, but I can't recall or locate the source at the moment. Unfortunately, I don't have the Eames Design book.

I made the same observation about the edge upon replacing my recent stool with a vintage one. Other observations were that the vintage stool is more honey brown, rather than dark brown. The finish is very smooth, whereas the recent stool I had was somewhat textural. Finally, the joints were notably tighter on the vintage stool, whereas the recent stool developed joint separations and other cracks within a few years of owning it.

Regarding other stool variations, I believe there are probably some floating around that are not necessarily vintage "pre-production" or direct Eames creations. I recall an eBay listing sometime ago where it was just the top and bottom portions glued together, coming from the "estate" of a former Herman Miller worker/employee.

This is a picture of the different shape I found...
Apparently comes with certificate from Herman Miller?

Opinions?
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/herman-miller-eames-wd...

Either
Either the picture is very skewed, or that is a fake. There were, in fact, four stool profiles initially, but only 3 made it into long-term production. The 4th variety can be seen in images of the Time-Life interiors. And you can see how the B shape was later modified.