Our dark rosewood Eames lounge chair pairs black Italian aniline leather with a deep red-brown rosewood veneer shell, and the matching ottoman comes with it. It is a replica of the 1956 lounge chair by Charles and Ray Eames, made for evenings of reading, music or a film in a living room, study or listening room. Because the shell sits close in depth to the black leather, the set reads as one quiet dark shape from across the room, with the warmth of the grain showing up close. That low contrast is what separates it from our lighter rosewood sets.
What Sets the Dark Rosewood Version Apart
- Dark rosewood veneer on both faces. A deep red-brown shell with near-black stripes in the grain. The back is finished like the front, so the set can stand in the open, away from a wall.
- Black aniline leather on every upholstered part. Seat, back, headrest, arm pads and ottoman share the same soft Italian aniline leather, with no coated panels tucked away at the sides.
- Seven-layer laminated shells. Thin layers of veneer bonded into one curve, a build that resists cracking and warping over years of use.
- Shock-mounted shells. The back gives a little when you lean into it, which is where the deep, easy recline comes from.
- Hand-sewn, welted and piped cushions. Button tufting pulls each pad in, and the welts keep the edges crisp as the leather softens.
- 360-degree swivel on an aluminium elephant base. Turn towards the window or the screen without lifting a 24 kg chair.
- Matching ottoman included. Same leather and dark veneer, on a four-star base of its own.
Why Pick Dark Rosewood Over a Lighter Shell?
Most black and rosewood chairs rely on contrast: a bright wood outline around dark cushions. Dark rosewood closes that gap with a deeper, more dramatic finish. The leather and shell sit close in tone, so the set reads as one calm shape. The red and amber in the grain only show when you walk up to it or a lamp catches the curve.
That makes this the most formal and least showy of our black and rosewood sets. It sits well on smoked or dark-stained oak, against slate, charcoal or deep plum walls, and beside black steel shelving or a wall of records. It is also the set we would choose for a home cinema or listening room, where a pale shell would pick up light from the screen.
How Our Dark Rosewood Eames Lounge Chair Is Made
The cushions are covered in soft Italian aniline leather in black. Aniline leather is dyed through, with no thick pigment coat on top, so you feel the hide itself and it creases and softens where you sit. Semi-aniline, used on many higher-priced versions, adds a thin protective layer that resists marks better but feels a touch less soft. We use full aniline for the feel.
Each shell is made of seven layers of laminated veneer, faced in dark rosewood on both sides. The deep brown grain carries darker streaks, and no two veneer sheets run the same way, so your shells will have their own figure. In German and Dutch shops the same shade is often listed as dark palisander.
Underneath, the chair turns on a five-star aluminium elephant base with broad legs. In our photos the arms show polished aluminium top edges with darker sides. The ottoman stands on a matching four-star base.
The Pairing Charles and Ray Eames Kept at Home
Charles and Ray Eames introduced the lounge chair and ottoman in 1956. Their grandson, Eames Demetrios, has said rosewood was the couple’s favourite wood, and the chair they kept in their own living room for more than 30 years was rosewood with black leather. Charles wanted the chair to have “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”, in other words a well-worn baseball glove, which is why soft aniline leather that creases with use suits this design. More on the designers is on our Charles and Ray Eames page.
Dark Rosewood Set: Full Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sederica |
| Product | Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman Replica, Black, Dark Rosewood |
| Type | Lounge chair with ottoman, a reproduction inspired by the 1956 Charles and Ray Eames design |
| Leather | Soft Italian aniline leather in black, on every upholstered part |
| Shell | 7-layer laminated veneer, dark rosewood veneer on both sides |
| Cushions | Hand-sewn, welted and piped, button-tufted |
| Recline | Shock-mounted shells |
| Base | Chair: 5-star aluminium elephant base, 360-degree swivel. Ottoman: 4-star base |
| Size version | Standard (not a tall version) |
| Ottoman | Included |
| Feature | Chair | Ottoman |
|---|---|---|
| Overall width | 87 cm | 65 cm |
| Overall depth | 87 cm | 54 cm |
| Overall height | 82 cm | 54 cm |
| Seat height | 42 cm | – |
| Chair weighs | 24 kg | 9 kg |
Does an All-Dark Lounge Chair Suit Your Room?
A good fit if:
- your floor, walls or shelving are already mid to dark, and you want the chair to settle in rather than stand out
- the chair will stand in the open, where the finished back of the shell is seen
- you want the black and rosewood look with less contrast than our lighter rosewood sets
- you have room for 87 cm of chair plus 54 cm of ottoman, with a gap for your legs between them
Look at another version if:
- your room is small and gets little daylight. A dark set can feel heavy there, and our black, light rosewood elephant base set keeps the same base with a brighter shell.
- you want the grain to stand out from across the room. Our black, natural rosewood set has a warmer, more visible figure.
- you plan to work at a desk from it. The shell holds you leaned back, so our Eames-style office chairs are the better tool.
- you are very tall. This is the standard size, so check the 82 cm height against an armchair you find comfortable.
For room layouts that work with a dark Eames chair, see our black lounge chair room ideas.
Dark Rosewood Next to Our Other Black Leather Sets
Our dark rosewood Eames lounge chair is the lowest-contrast of our black and rosewood sets. The table shows where it sits.
| Version | Shell | Contrast with black leather | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| This set: Black, Dark Rosewood | Deep red-brown, near-black stripes | Low: leather and shell read as one shape | You want a quiet, formal chair with warmth up close |
| Black, Rosewood, Elephant Base | Light rosewood | High: the shell outlines the cushions | You want the same base with a brighter shell |
| Black, Natural Rosewood | Warm red-brown, unstained | Medium: grain visible across the room | You prefer the classic look on a standard base |
| Black, Ebony Ash | Dark ebony ash, close in tone to the leather | Very low: close to all black | You want no red warmth in the wood at all |
Every finish is in our Eames lounge chair replica collection.
Care Notes for an All-Dark Chair
- Black aniline shows pale dust sooner than brown leather. A weekly pass with a soft brush or a dry microfibre cloth keeps it even.
- Light surface scuffs on aniline often soften if you rub them gently with a clean fingertip. Deeper marks stay and become part of the patina.
- Strong sun can fade black aniline dye towards brown. If the chair stands near a window, swivel it a quarter turn every few weeks so any change stays even.
- Dark veneer shows fingerprints more than pale ash. Wipe the shell along the grain with a dry cloth, without spray polish or silicone.
- Use a conditioner made for aniline leather every 6 to 12 months, not a general leather cream.
- On soft wooden floors, fit felt pads under the base glides to avoid dents.
Before You Order: Five Questions About This Set
How is this different from your Black, Rosewood, Elephant Base set?
Only the shell shade changes. Both sets use the same black aniline leather, the same elephant base and the same 87 × 87 × 82 cm chair at 24 kg. The elephant base set has light rosewood, which frames the cushions. This one has dark rosewood, which blends with them.
How dark is the dark rosewood, and will mine match the photos?
Expect a deep red-brown with near-black stripes: darker than our light and natural rosewood, warmer than ebony ash. In daylight the red comes forward, and in the evening the shell can look almost black. Each veneer sheet has its own figure and screens shift red tones, so your shells will differ a little from our pictures.
Is the leather full aniline or semi-aniline?
Full aniline, on every upholstered part of the chair and ottoman. It feels softer than semi-aniline and builds a patina, but it marks more easily and has less protection against spills. Our guide to the best Eames lounge chair replicas explains how leather grades compare.
Is this the standard size or a tall version?
Standard. The chair measures 87 × 87 × 82 cm with a 42 cm seat height, and the headrest is fixed. If you are very tall, sit in an armchair of a similar height and check where your head meets the top before you order.
Does black leather show dust, lint and pet hair?
Pale dust and light-coloured hair show more on black than on brown or tan leather, while dark hair hardly shows at all. A soft brush or a barely damp microfibre cloth lifts both. Claws are the bigger risk, because aniline leather has no hard coating to stop a scratch.
This set is a replica sold by Sederica and has no link to the Eames family or to any other company that makes the chair. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.