Eames Wire Chairs redesigned for charity

Wire chair with lots of brown straw decoration

To raise money for children's art charity La Source, 51 re-conceived Eames Wire Chairs will go under auction in Paris this evening. Pictured: 'Wild Wire', by Edouard François. Courtesy Hugo Miserey

(Image credit: TBC)

By Jean Grogan

last updated 1 September 2022

Fifty-one Charles and Ray Eames Wire Chairs reinterpreted by artists will be auctioned in Paris today (14 December) to raise money for La Source, a charitable association created by French artist Gérard Garouste to help children express themselves through art in four French centres.

The chairs were donated by Vitra and reinterpreted by leading artists, interior designers, fashion designers and architects, many of whom also participate in La Source workshops each year. Famous names on this year's list include Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec, Philippe Starck, Matali Crasset, Antoine + Manuel, Odile Decq, Christian Louboutin, India Mahdavi, and, of course, Garouste himself.

The designer one-offs come under the hammer of Simon de Pury, chairman of the Philips art auction house. Maître de Pury explains that the charity auction is exceptional in his experience, as artists surpass themselves to transform the object for auction into something unique.

'The Wire Chair's grid seems to have particularly inspired the artists, we're seeing a great deal of invention and a lot of humour,' he says.

5.5 designstudio reinterpreted the chair as a barbeque, Christian Louboutin added a backrest in the form of his signature red leather sole, while Philippe Starck added padlocks in a tribute to the Pont des Art bridge. Most poignantly, Sarah Lavoine and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac created a tribute to Paris following the recent tragic events.

The chairs will be exhibited in the Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris until today; the auction begins at 8pm French time this evening.

Colourful wire chair to left, white chair to right — The chairs were donated by Vitra and reinterpreted by leading artists, interior designers, fashion designers and architects, many of whom also participate in La Source workshops each yearr. Pictured left: 'Aerosol', Antoine + Manuel. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*. Right: 'Eames en string', by Franklin Azzi. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*

Naked woman with paint on her back to resemble a chair and white chair to right — The designer one-offs come under the hammer of Simon de Pury, chairman of the Philips art auction house, this evening. Pictured left: 'Sitting Wild', by Odile Decq. *Courtesy the artist*. Right: 'Madeleine', by Marie Denis. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*

Barbeque chair with all tools attached — 'Barbeque Eames', by 5.5 designstudio. *Courtesy the artists*

Two chairs highly decorated in wool and other materials — Pictured left: 'Lola rasta chair', by India Mahdavi. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*. Right: 'Tartan', by Alice Gavalet. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*

Blue and red wire chair — 'Duo', by Sarah Lavoine. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*

Bulb lit chair on left, rope decorated chair on right — Pictured left: 'Eames shadows', by Patrick Jouin. Courtesy Hugo Miserey. Right: 'Rope Chair', by Franck Evennou. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*

Two wire chairs, one decorated with a large red material — Pictured left: 'La chaise d'honneur', by Christian Louboutin. *Courtesy Hugo Miserey*. Right: 'Wimbledon', by Inga Sempe. Courtesy Hugo Miserey

INFORMATION

For more information, visit La Source's website

ADDRESS

Hôtel de l’Industrie
4, Place Saint-Germain-des-Près
75006 Paris

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