My old Thonet (not Eames) chair, 8/2020

 

Update - with additional research, I found out that this is actually a "Thonet" mid-century, bent plywood side chair; not by Eames. Thonet makes industrial furniture for colleges and Michael Thonet, a German designer from the 1900's, invented a heat-bending plywood construction process. So, I learned something new about my old chair.

In college, I worked at the Cal Dining Commons and happened upon this thrown out chair near the dumpster. Since I was a student in engineering/architecture, the chair appeared to be an industrial Eames chair that may have been used by the dormitories for student seating. It was in pretty bad shape but I took it home anyway.

Over the years, I used the chair as my step stool, to hold books, and as a trusted painting seat by my easel. For a long time, it sat outside getting worn by the weather and taken apart by neighborhood birds for nesting material.

Poor old chair sitting outside...

During the pandemic, I decided to refurbish my old chair and bring her back indoors. I took the seat and back apart, removed the legs, and set about refinishing all the components. Here are a few progress pics from the restoration.

Taking apart the legs

Sanded and ready for polyurethane

All pieces ready for reassembly

Well, my old Eames chair is restored and ready for another 40 years of service. Many thanks to Tony at Bay Trim Upholstery for reupholstering the seat and back; Ooohhhh, it is so comfy!