{"meta":{"version":"2.0","images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU4430/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU4430/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU4430","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AL3422","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX8406","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O70986","accessionNumber":"W.5:1 to 8-1991","objectType":"Storage unit","titles":[{"title":"ESU 421-C","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"This example of the Eames Storage Unit was one of the larger cabinets from the collection. The range was intended for either commercial or domestic use, and was based on a system of interchangeable parts. Customers could choose the size of the piece, and the arrangement of panels (flat or 'dimpled'), drawers, materials, colours and finishes. There were two main sources for the design. The first were the modular storage systems that had been developed for domestic use in Germany in the 1920s. The second was American metal office furniture of the early 20th century. The Storage Unit was also intimately related to the Eames's own house, which was designed at the same time. Like the unit, the house had a steel framework with different coloured panels set into it.","physicalDescription":"Storage unit with four tiers with sliding doors of moulded plywood on top and bottom; 3 drawers; perforated metal and masonite panels of grey and beige.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Eames, Charles","id":"A6738"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Eames, Ray","id":"A6739"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Herman Miller Furniture Co","id":"A6740"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"plywood","id":"AAT12849"},{"text":"Masonite (TM)","id":"AAT14205"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"plating","id":"AAT53991"},{"text":"coating","id":"AAT53772"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Zinc-plated steel, birch-faced plywood, plastic-coated plywood, and lacquered fibreboard (masonite)","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"SCRAN","id":"THES48897"},{"text":"Plastic","id":"THES49026"}],"styles":[{"text":"Mid 20th century","id":"x36068"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AU4430","2006AL3422","2011EX8406"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""},{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY11","shelf":"EXP","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Storage unit","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Storage unit door","id":""}],[{"text":"Storage unit door","id":""}],[{"text":"Storage unit door","id":""}],[{"text":"Storage unit door","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1949-1950","earliest":"1949-01-01","latest":"1950-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1950-52","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1952-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"148.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"119.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"42.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured LC 18/10/10","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"herman miller furniture company/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":"Label in top drawer"}],"objectHistory":"The ESU (Eames Storage Units) was marketed as a modestly priced, industrially-based, knock-down design for the modern interieur. Its elements were part of a interchangable system that allowed users to virtually design their own storage system. The basic steel frame units were made in different sizes. It allowed two widths, three heights and one depth. The frames could be fitted with a large variety of drawer units or open or closed shelving. The latter came with wood or plastic sliding doors. The sides and back could be enclosed by wire struts, metal grilles, plywoods and solid or laminated plastic.\r\nThis example came from the office of a mid-Western, American architect. It is unusual in its subtile grey and tan colours; the red, blue and white versions were more common. This unit is from the very first production with the original steel legs, a detail dropped when the firm decided to ship the units erected rather than knocked-down.","historicalContext":"The Storage Unit is often associated with the Eamses' own house designed at the same time. The house and the storage unit have similar technical features and aesthetic qualities: the undisguised structural components were used for a decorative effect. Both the storage unit and the house were made of parts derived from industry and their appearance was based on a steel frame, reinforced by wire struts.","briefDescription":"ESU 421-C Storage Unit designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller Furniture Co., 1949-50","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. p.214-5, ill. ISBN 085667463X."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"100 Masterpieces from the Vitra Design Museum Collection. Edited by Alexander von Vegesack et al., 1996, p.84-5"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cold War Modern. Design 1945-1970. Edited by David Crowley and Jane Pavitt, 2008, p.85"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"'Recent acquisitions of furniture and woodwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum'. Burlington Magazine June 1993, vol. CXXXV, no. 1083, pp. 443-448. This item and its pair (W.34-1990) illustrated as item XIV."}],"production":"Reason For Production: Retail","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"STORAGE UNIT\r\nDesigned by Charles Eames (North American, 1907-1978) and Ray Eames (née Kaiser, North American, 1930-1988)\r\nMade by Hermann Miller Furniture Co., Zeeland, Michigan, U.S.A., about 1949\r\nSteel frame, moulded plywood, perforated metal and masonite panels\r\nW.5-1991\r\n\r\nDesigned by the husband and wife team responsible for many of the most influential chair designs of the 1940s and '50s, the Storage Unit was presented as a modestly priced, knock-down design for the home or office. Its elements were part of an interchangeable system of parts that allowed purchasers to design their own storage systems. The undisguised, industrially derived,, structural elements provide defined spaces which can be fitted with large panels of various material in a variety of colours.","date":{"text":"1992","earliest":"1992-01-01","latest":"1992-12-31"}},{"text":"Flexible storage unit\r\nCharles Eames (1907-78) and Ray Eames (1912-88) \r\nDesigned 1949-50\r\n\r\nDesigned as an interchangeable kit of parts, and using industrially derived elements from materials such as steel and plywood, the units were meant to be an affordable and flexible system for use at home or in the workplace. The same principles of prefabrication and adaptability were applied to the Eames' house in California, completed in 1949.\r\n\r\nUSA\r\nManufactured by Herman Miller Furniture Co., Michigan\r\nZinc-plated steel, birch-faced plywood, plastic-coated plywood and lacquered fibreboard (masonite)\r\nV&A: W.5:3 to 5-1991","date":{"text":"2008/9","earliest":"2008-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}},{"text":"Storage unit, model ESU 421-C\r\n1949–50\r\nDesigned by Charles Eames (1907–78) and Ray Eames (1930–88) \r\n\r\nUSA\r\nManufactured 1950–2 by Herman Miller Furniture Co., Zeeland, Michigan\r\nBirch-faced plywood, plastic-coated plywood and lacquered fibreboard (masonite)\r\nFrame and mounts: chrome-plated steel and zinc-plated steel rod\r\n\r\nMuseum no. W.5-1991\r\n\r\nThe Eames Storage Unit collection was based on a system of industrial, interchangeable parts. Customers could choose the size, colour, materials and finish of their units. This early example has a natural finish, but others are in the mainly red, blue and white colour scheme of the Eames’s own house. \r\n\r\nInitially the units were assembled on site. Later they came pre-assembled, in a large box that could be turned into a children’s playhouse. ","date":{"text":"01/12/2012","earliest":"2012-12-01","latest":"2012-12-01"}}],"partNumbers":["W.5:3-1991","W.5:5-1991","W.5:4-1991","W.5:2-1991","W.5:1-1991","W.5:8-1991","W.5:7-1991","W.5:6-1991"],"accessionNumberNum":"5","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1991,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Drawer [1]","Storage unit door [1]","Drawer [2]","Drawer [3]","Storage unit","Storage unit door [2]","Storage unit door [3]","Storage unit door [4]"],"assets":["2019LM5766","2019LT5638","2019LT9665","2019LW0358"],"recordModificationDate":"2022-07-21","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-28"}}