{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O144314"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O144314/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN4173/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN4173/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AN4173","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O144314","accessionNumber":"W.2-1994","objectType":"Coffee table","titles":[{"title":"CTW","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"At the close of the Second World War Charles and Ray Eames developed several prototype moulded plywood tables for manufacture by Evans Products in Los Angeles, among them this model with its distinctive saucer-shaped top. The compound curve of the moulded table top, in which the plywood is curved in three dimensions, was a major breakthrough of the period. The designers intended the table to complement their plywood chairs from the same period and they were designed with the same intent: making minimal use of wood and hardware, mass-produced for efficiency and low cost, and suitable for a variety of uses in the home. \r\n\r\nThis table bears a label for the manufacturer, Evans Products, and the distributor, Herman Miller.  Evans Products was the first firm to make the tables, in California in 1946. In 1947 Charles Eames became a consultant for the Herman Miller Company who took over the distribution, though not the manufacture, of Eames furniture. In the same year Evans Products moved its manufacturing from California to Michigan, and stopped selling its products itself. From 1949 the Herman Miller Company manufactured Eames furniture as well as distributing it, and Evans Products severed all links with the Eameses. \r\n\r\nThe table was bought by the Russian émigré constructivist sculptor Naum Gabo and his wife Miriam in about 1948/9.  They had emigrated from Britain in 1946 and probably bought this for their house in Waterbury, Connecticut.  Ironically, in later life Miriam Gabo complained that the rim - the great innovation of plywood moulded into complex curves - simply caused cups and glasses to slide off the table.","physicalDescription":"Coffee table, circular top and four legs. Moulded plywood, metal domes on feet.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Eames, Charles","id":"A6738"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Eames, Ray","id":"A6739"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Evans Products Company, Molded Plywood Division","id":"A21060"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Herman Miller Furniture Co","id":"A6740"},"association":{"text":"distributors","id":"x41024"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plywood","id":"AAT12849"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulded","id":"x30076"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded plywood and metal","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AN4173"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES344779"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coffee table","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"California","id":"x28779"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1947-1948","earliest":"1947-01-01","latest":"1948-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Nina and Graham Williams","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"39.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"87.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Taken from register","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Manufactured by Evans Products Company, molded plywood division. Herman Miller Furniture Company Sole Distributor. Designed by Charles Eames.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Labelled on underside"}],"objectHistory":"This table was bought by Naum and Miriam Gabo in about 1948-9. The sculptor and his family emigrated to the USA from Britain in 1946.","historicalContext":"Evans Products Company began making three-legged molded plywood tables to the Eameses designs in 1945 but very soon turned to four-legged tables which were more stable.","briefDescription":"Table, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, made by Evans Products, USA, 1946-7, moulded plywood","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Eames Design</u>, Neuhart, Neuhart and Eames (Ernst & Sohn), pp 62, 63, 80."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"COFFEE TABLE\r\n\r\nDesigned by Charles Eames (American, 1907-1978) and Ray Eames (American, 1912-1988)\r\nManufactured by Molded Plywood Division, Evans Products Company, Venice, California, USA\r\nDistributed by Herman Miller Furniture Company, Zeeland, Michigan, USA\r\nMolded plywood\r\n1946-7\r\n\r\nThis table was bought by the emigré Russian sculptor Naum Gabo and his wife Miriam in about 1948/9, having moved to Connecticut from England in 1946.\r\n\r\nGiven by Nina and Graham Williams\r\nW.2-1994","date":{"text":"1994-2006","earliest":"1994-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.2-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-01-31","availableToBook":true}}