Q. I am considering buying a chair from a neighbor. It is being advertised as an “Eames” chair. How do I know that is real, and what is a reasonable price to offer? My neighbor bought it at an estate sale in the 1970’s.

A. Husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames are considered two of the most important designers of the twentieth century. Charles grew up in St. Louis, had a background in architecture and Ray (from California) had a background in painting when they met and collaborated to enter a furniture contest sponsored by the Museum of Modern Art. They won two first prizes. Their designs utilized molded plywood.

Charles and Ray married and continued to create furniture. They developed and mastered methods to curve plywood into interesting shapes. Their work became popular and got noticed by the large furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, which took over manufacturing and introduced the lounge chair and ottoman (Model numbers 670 and 671) on the "Arlene Francis Show" in 1956. The chair was offered in several leather options (black being the most popular) with a large choice of wood veneers. It was quickly labelled a classic 20th century design, and many remain in museum collections.

The chair has been in continuous production ever since. There are also many reproductions.
To know if you have the real thing, look under each piece and you should find a Herman Miller sticker. A new Herman Miller lounge, chair and ottoman retails for almost $5,000. Vintage pieces in good condition sell at auction in the $2,500 range.

Karen Waterman is a fine art, antique furniture and decorative arts appraiser in the East Bay area and will answer as many questions regarding your “hidden treasures” as possible. By sending a letter or email with a question you give full permission for use in the column. Names, addresses or e-mail will not be published and photos will be returned if requested. Send e-mails (digital photos preferred) to trashortreasure@ymail.com. Send snail mail to East Bay Newspapers, Attn. Karen Waterman, PO. Box 90, Bristol, RI 02809.