This is our Eames lounge chair rosewood replica: black aniline leather on a shell of natural rosewood veneer, with the matching ottoman included. Black leather on rosewood is the pairing most people picture when they think of the 1956 design by Charles and Ray Eames. We make it for the person who wants one proper armchair for reading and music, and who wants the wood to be noticed. Its warm red-brown grain is what sets this version apart from our walnut and ash chairs.
What you get, and why it matters
- Black aniline leather. The dye goes into the hide and no thick coating is laid on top. The leather feels soft from the first evening and builds a patina with use.
- Natural rosewood veneer on both faces of the shell. The back of the chair is as finished as the front, so you can place it in the open, away from a wall.
- 7-layer laminated shell. Seven thin layers are bonded into one curved shell, a build that resists cracking and warping.
- Shock-mounted shells. The mounts let the backrest give a little when you lean into it. That is where the deep, easy recline comes from.
- Polished aluminium base with a 360-degree swivel. Turn from the bookshelf to the window without dragging the chair across the floor.
- Ottoman included. Same leather, same veneer, on a base of its own.
Eames lounge chair rosewood veneer: tone, grain and finish
Rosewood is a red-brown timber with darker lines running through it. On our shell the warm rosewood tone sits between honey and russet, and the natural grain is strong enough to read from across the room. We leave the veneer unstained and finish it clear, so the colour you see belongs to the wood.
Because it is real veneer, no two shells match. One chair may carry broad dark streaks, the next a tighter, straighter figure. Expect yours to differ a little from our pictures.
If you shop in German, Dutch or French, you may know this wood as Palisander, palissander or palissandre. It is the same family of timber under its continental name. If you have been searching for unstained palisander with black leather, this is that chair.
Look along the rim of the shell and you will see a pale stripe. That is the edge of the seven plies, left visible as it was on mid-century moulded plywood.
Eames lounge chair black leather: cushions, stitching and base
Each cushion is covered in soft Italian aniline leather, hand-sewn, then finished with a welt and piping along the seams. Covered buttons pull each pad in at the centre. Black aniline leather shows its natural grain and fine creases, so it will not look like a uniform coated hide.
Underneath, the chair turns on a five-star polished aluminium base, and the ottoman stands on a four-star base. Of the leather colours we offer, black is the easiest to live with. Everyday marks show far less than they do on white.
Vintage rosewood Eames lounge chair, or a new reproduction?
When the lounge chair appeared in 1956, its shells were faced in Brazilian rosewood. That timber was dropped from production around 1990 on sustainability grounds, as Galerie Magazine’s history of the chair records. Chairs from before that date are now collectors’ pieces, sold through auction houses and vintage dealers.
Ours is a reproduction Eames lounge chair and ottoman: newly made, inspired by the 1956 design, with a new rosewood veneer and new leather. It gives you the black-and-rosewood look without hunting for a seventy-year-old chair and paying to restore it. Our Charles and Ray Eames page and our history of the lounge chair tell the fuller story.
We are not affiliated with the Eames Office or with any other maker of the chair. If you want to know what the words replica and reproduction mean, we explain them here. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
Natural rosewood Eames lounge chair: how it compares with our other black versions
We make several chairs in black leather. The wood changes the mood of each one.
| Version | Wood shell | Looks best |
|---|---|---|
| This chair: Black, Natural Rosewood | Warm red-brown rosewood, strong grain | With oak floors, pale walls, brass and wool |
| Black, Light Rosewood, Chrome Base | Paler rosewood on a chrome base | In cooler, brighter rooms with steel or glass nearby |
| Black, Ash | Pale cream-to-honey ash | In Scandinavian rooms and small flats |
| Black, Ebony Ash | Dark ebony ash, close to the leather | Where you want one dark, quiet shape |
Natural rosewood is the warmest of the four. On pale oak or light stone the shell glows. On a dark floor it blends in and the black leather does the talking.
One caution: beside brown walnut furniture, the red in rosewood can look mismatched. Compare the tones before you commit.
Prefer the same wood with a lighter seat? See our white leather and rosewood chair. For a side chair to go with it, our LCW plywood chair comes in rosewood too. Our mid-century living room guide has layout ideas.
Who this chair suits, and who should choose something else
It suits you if evenings are for a book or a record, and you have a corner of the living room or study to give it. It seats one. Plan it next to your sofa, not as a replacement for one.
Think twice if you plan to work from it. You sit low, 42 cm from the floor, leaned back at an angle set by the shell, and there is no lever to bring you upright. For a desk, our Eames-style office chairs are the right tool.
This is the classic-size shell at 82 cm high. If you are very tall, check that height against a chair you already own.
Uncoated leather and sharp claws do not mix. Neither do rosewood and a south-facing window with no blind. If either describes your room, be honest with yourself before ordering.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sederica |
| Product | Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman Replica, Black, Natural Rosewood |
| Type | Lounge chair with ottoman, a reproduction inspired by the 1956 Charles and Ray Eames design |
| Upholstery | Soft Italian aniline leather in black; hand-sewn, welted and piped cushions |
| Shell | 7-layer laminated veneer, natural rosewood veneer on both sides |
| Mounts | Shock mounts between the shells |
| Base | Polished 5-star aluminium, 360-degree swivel |
| Chair size (W × D × H) | 87 × 87 × 82 cm |
| Seat height | 42 cm |
| Ottoman size (W × D × H) | 65 × 54 × 54 cm |
| Weight | Chair 24 kg, ottoman 9 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Returns | 14 days, free |
Set out as a pair, our Eames lounge chair with ottoman replica needs roughly 1.7 m from the back of the chair to the front of the ottoman. Leave a clear ring around it so the swivel does not catch a side table. The chair weighs 24 kg, enough to feel planted and light enough to shift when you rearrange the room.
It arrives flat-packed with the tools in the box. Our assembly guide walks through each step.
Looking after rosewood veneer and black aniline leather
- Dust the shell with a dry microfibre cloth, moving along the grain. Skip spray polish and anything abrasive.
- Wood shifts in tone with daylight. For the first months, do not leave a throw draped over one part of the shell, or you may be left with a visible line.
- Blot spills on the leather straight away with a clean cloth. Rubbing pushes liquid deeper into uncoated hide.
- Twice a year is enough for conditioner, and it must be one made for aniline leather.
- Leave a gap between the chair and any radiator or stove. Dry heat is hard on leather and veneer alike.
- After the first few weeks, check the bolts and tighten any that have settled.
Why buy from Sederica
We keep this chair in our EU warehouse, so it reaches you without customs charges and with VAT already included. Delivery within the EU is free with no minimum spend, and takes 6 to 7 days. It comes with a 2-year warranty and 14 days to return it free of charge.
Questions about the rosewood version
Is the rosewood on this chair real wood?
Yes. The shell is faced in rosewood veneer on both sides, over a 7-layer laminated core. The grain you see is the grain of the timber, which is why it varies from chair to chair.
Is this Eames lounge chair Brazilian rosewood, like the vintage ones?
No. Brazilian rosewood was last used on this design around 1990, and the species is protected today. Our chair is a new reproduction with a new rosewood veneer in a similar warm tone.
Is rosewood the same as palisander?
In furniture terms, yes. Palisander is the name used for rosewood across much of continental Europe. A chair listed as palisander with black leather has the same look as this one.
Rosewood or walnut: which should I choose?
Rosewood is redder, with a bolder, more streaked grain. Walnut is browner and calmer. Pick rosewood if you want the 1956 look and a shell that draws the eye, and walnut if your room is already furnished in brown timber.
Will the veneer mark or change colour over time?
Both, slowly, as any real wood does. The tone shifts with daylight, which is why even light matters in the first months. Veneer is a thin layer of real wood, so keys and belt buckles can scratch it. Treat the shell as you would a good table.
Want to see this shell beside our other woods and leathers? The whole range is in our Eames lounge chair replica collection.
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