ercol Dining Chairs

ercol dining chairs include some of the most recognisable pieces in British design – the Windsor, the All Purpose Chair, the loveseat. Steam-bent in beech and elm at the Princes Risborough workshop, with hand-finished hardwood seats, these are dining chairs designed for daily life across decades rather than seasons.
  • Chairmakers Chair Chairmakers Chair

    The Originals Quaker chair has the most generous seat depth and back support, which makes it the comfort choice for long dinners. The Windsor is more compact and reads as more traditional. The Pinnacle and All Purpose chairs sit between the two – contemporary in feel but with the same considered ergonomics.

    ercol seats are sculpted from solid timber rather than cushioned, but the curve is shaped to the body and many people find them more supportive than upholstered alternatives over a long meal. If you want softness, a tied seat pad in linen or wool gives the chair a slightly relaxed read without compromising the structure.

    Yes – the timber palettes (light beech, dark walnut, ash) are consistent across ercol's ranges, which makes mixing chair styles successful in the same room. A common configuration is Quakers at the heads with Windsors along the runs, or All Purpose chairs paired with the Originals loveseat.

    Original ercol pieces from the 1950s-70s often turn up at auction with worn finishes. The brand's authorised restoration partners can re-finish to original specification, or you can sand and re-oil at home – the timber is robust enough to take it. Replace woven seat panels through ercol's authorised re-weavers if needed.

    • Heal's Top Picks: Psychiatrist Chairs
      Products
      Heal's Top Picks: Psychiatrist Chairs
      Cassina's LC4 Chaise chrome frame black leather Combining this iconic 1920’s design with contemporary standards of comfort. After a long day this chair is perfect for a sit back and relax. Get 15% off at Heal’s while sales last. Heal's Wingback Chair Designed by Tom Dixon. The tall back and curvaceous sides almost encapsulate you, hiding you away. Heal's Cinema Chair A mix of Hollywood glamour and modern tailoring, Heal's swivel armchair. The Ploum large high back sofa by Ligne Roset. After a l long journey to heaven God should surely be greeting you with one of these. Heal's Barrington A classic club look that takes shape from an original French club chair. Let yourself sink in to this timeless classic. Vitra Eames Lounger & Ottoman classic And of course this article would not be complete without a) Our favourite psychiatrist Frasier. And b) the Eames Lounger he is seen in above.
    • How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      Buying Guides
      How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      As one of the world’s most iconic chairs, it probably comes as no surprise that the Eames Lounge Chair is the victim of untold inferior copies. In fact, fake Eames Loungers sit unknowingly, or knowingly, in peoples’ homes across the globe. Maybe you’re looking to buy a vintage Eames Lounge Chair online. Or perhaps you’ve seen a new one in a shop but aren’t convinced it’s authentic. It’s completely understandable that you want to make sure it’s authentic before splashing out on it. To help you decide, we’ve compiled some of the ways you can tell a real Eames Lounger from a fake. These sure-fire ways to spot a fake Eames Lounge Chair should help you make this important decision. Read on to find out. The size of an original Eames Lounge Chair Aside from a taller version introduced in 2010, the Eames Lounge Chair hasn’t changed sizes since it was designed in 1956. That means you can tell an original Eames Chair from its size. Fake Eames Lounge Chairs tend to have completely wrong proportions. So, if the size is off, then the odds are that it’s a knock off. If you’re buying an Eames Lounger from a second hand or vintage shop, then get your tape measure out. A classic Eames Lounge Chair measures 84cm tall, 84cm wide and 91cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. A tall Eames Lounge Chair is 89cm tall, 84cm wide and 92cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. Labels on an authentic Eames Lounge Chair Whether your Eames Chair is vintage or brand spanking new, it should have a label to prove its authenticity. When looking for a label on an Eames Chair, we tend to start with the base. It will normally be at the point where the base connects with the chair’s shell. If it isn’t there, then try sliding off the chair’s cushions and you may find a label underneath. Once you find it, a label should have one of two names, Hermann Miller or Vitra. To European and Middle Eastern audiences, Vitra is renowned for making Eames furniture. If you’re buying the chair here, then that’s what you should expect to see a Vitra label. However, Hermann Miller was the original manufacturer of the Eames Lounge Chair in the USA and even commissioned it in the first place. Of course, some Vitra loungers will have made their way across the Atlantic and vice versa. So, don’t be surprised if it has a Hermann Miller label attached to it. Whether it’s a Hermann Miller or a Vitra tag, either tag should guarantee its authenticity. Both brands have gone through a wide range of labels since the chair was first produced. That means there are many different labels that could be on your chair. It could be a small metal plaque, a sticker with Charles Eames’ signature or a roundel. If you can’t find a label on your Eames Lounger, then don’t despair. If the chair’s old and the right size, with all the quality fixtures and features then it’s probably just missing a label. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair move? An authentic Eames Lounge Chair should swivel 360° in a fluid motion. That is, the shell swivels on the base itself. If the base has wheels or castors, then it won’t be an original. Many people think that this type of chair is a recliner, but it isn’t. Yes, an Eames Lounger will tilt slightly when you lean back on it, but it’s no reclining chair. So, if the chair in question reclines far back or has mechanisms to help it recline, then it isn’t an original. An Eames Lounger’s premium finish Always remember the prestige reputation manufacturers like Hermann Miller and Vitra have. Not to mention the exacting standards of Charles Eames himself. That means original Eames Chairs are always finished to the highest possible standard. All authentic Eames Lounge Chairs are made up of three wooden shells. That’s one for the seat, one for the back and one for the headrest. Then there are two shells that make up the armrests. The shells all appear as though floating with no visible screw or bolts. The only place you may spot a screw is on the armrests and original ones will be black. Effort has been made to ensure the design is structurally sound whilst concealing the screws. So, if screws stick out like sore thumbs, it won’t be an original. The base of an Eames Lounge Chair The chair’s base is also a tell-tale sign. It should have five legs and be made using die cast aluminium. Since they’re made using this technique, the base should be one solid piece of aluminium, rather than having individual legs screwed together. Each leg will have a slight angle and taper off into a rounded end, rather than a squared end. The base isn’t always the same finish, in fact, expect to see it polished, chromed or matte black. So, if there’s less than five legs and steep angles on the base, you’re probably looking at a fake. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair cost? The price of an Eames Lounge Chair differs depending on the leather and wood finishes that you choose. But needless to say, the price tag that comes with them reflects the work that goes into making them perfect. That isn’t to say it’s a walk in the park to create a replica. The many elements of an Eames Lounger’s design means that a new replica could still cost upwards of £1,000. However, a used replica will set you back a few hundred pounds. So, if the price is substantially lower than those advertised by Vitra or Hermann Miller then it’s likely a fake. Interested in buying an original? See our authentic Eames Lounge Chairs here.
    • Design Lovers: Help Romeo Find His Juliet Chair
      Heritage
      Design Lovers: Help Romeo Find His Juliet Chair
      Nick relaxing on the Romeo chair at his home in Surrey. This Valentine’s, Heal’s is looking for love as we attempt to reunite our Romeo and Juliet chairs. One of the great joys of working at Heal’s is reading your enquiries regarding our archive designs. So when Nick’s letter dropped onto our desk we couldn’t help but go all mushy inside. In it he tells the story behind his Romeo chair, bought from Heal’s in 1963 as a wedding gift for his wife Judith and originally sold as a pair alongside the Juliet chair. Over five decades on, Nick is on the hunt for a Juliet for Judith and needs your help. We’re calling on all you design lovers out there to help us reunite these two star-crossed designs. So if you happen to know an owner in Verona or fancy yourself as a vintage design connoisseur, get in touch today by emailing: pressoffice@heals.co.uk Nick's sketch comparing the Romeo and Juliet chairs drawn ‘from memory’. Designed circa 1963, the Romeo and Juliet chairs are typical of the Scandinavian inspired furniture produced by Heal’s during this period. The upholstered shell seat evokes designs from Verner Panton with both pieces resting on a four-pronged metal base that allows the chair to swivel. Each was upholstered in a textured wool weave, the Romeo finished in purple while the Juliet in a vibrant yellow. The Romeo chair at Nick and Judith's Surrey home. Now in their eighties, Nick and Judith reside in a leafy suburb in Sussex. Throughout the 1950s and 60s the pair lived in South Kensington, London where Nick trained as an architect while Judith worked as a music producer at the BBC. It was on the commute to work that they would pass Heal’s Tottenham Court Road store, falling in love with the building and eventually popping in to buy the Romeo chair. The original letter sent to Heal's by Nick.