The Eames executive chair white leather version is the lightest-looking chair in our ES104 range. Three button-tufted cushions in white full-grain leather sit between chrome-plated aluminium side frames, on a five-star base that swivels, tilts and rises. It is a generous, well-padded seat that still looks crisp in a bright room.
We offer this replica for executive desks, meeting tables and reception areas where black leather would feel too heavy. It is inspired by the lobby chair Charles and Ray Eames created in 1960, and it follows that chair’s three-cushion layout closely.
Why Choose a White Leather Executive Office Chair?
A large executive chair can take over a small office. In white, the ES104 reflects light instead of absorbing it, so its 74 cm width reads as calm rather than bulky. That matters in home offices, compact meeting rooms and glass-walled studios, where the chair is seen from every side.
White also fits the rooms many of our European customers already have: pale oak or birch desks, white walls, grey textiles and plenty of daylight. In a Scandinavian-leaning or modern minimalist workspace, the chair blends into the room instead of anchoring it. Next to chrome and glass the look is clean and bright, which works well in design studios, clinics, salons and reception areas.
There is a trade-off, and we would rather mention it now. White leather shows what darker leather hides: blue dye from new jeans, ink and the odd coffee splash. If several people will use the chair hard every day, one of our darker ES104 colours is the more forgiving choice.
Materials and Build
Each cushion is upholstered in white full-grain leather, the outer layer of the hide with its natural grain left intact. The panels are hand-stitched and finished with piped edges. Button tufting on the two back cushions holds the leather in place, so it doesn’t slide or bag as the chair is used.
The same white leather covers the arm pads, so your forearms rest on the same material as your back. Inside every cushion is fire-retardant high-resilience foam. This type of foam springs back after each sitting, which helps the cushions keep their shape instead of flattening where you sit most.
The frame gives the chair its outline. Chrome-plated aluminium side frames join the three cushions and carry the arms, while a five-star base in the same chrome-plated aluminium runs on smooth-rolling castors. Under the seat sits a black tilt and height mechanism, the only dark part of the chair, which you can see in our gallery photos.
Three adjustments cover the basics. The overall height moves between 89 and 97 cm, the back tilts when you lean away from the desk, and the chair turns a full 360 degrees. At 16.5 kg it feels solid underfoot, yet one person can wheel it from the study to the dining table without effort.
The Story Behind the ES104 Office Chair
This design began with a favour. In 1959, Charles and Ray Eames were making Glimpses of the USA, a multi-screen film for the American National Exhibition in Moscow, and Time Inc. founder Henry Luce let them use the Time/Life photo library. A year later he asked for something back: the lobbies of his new Time & Life Building in Manhattan, as the Eames Office explains.
One of the pieces they designed for those lobbies was a padded leather swivel chair. The aim was comfort close to their 1956 lounge chair, in a smaller chair that could also pull up to a conference table. Their answer was three separately upholstered sections held together by aluminium sides, the layout our replica follows.
That history explains the many names the design carries today: the Time-Life chair, the lobby chair and the executive chair. ES104 is the model name most often used for the swivel desk version on castors. You can read more about the couple’s furniture on our Charles and Ray Eames designer page.
ES104 or Another Eames-Style Office Chair?
Our Eames-style office chair collection covers several models, and the ES104 is the most lounge-like of them. Here is how it compares with the white versions of our other chairs.
| Model | Seat and back | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES104 executive chair (this chair) | Three thick, separate leather cushions | Broad and deeply padded | Executive desks, meeting rooms, reception |
| EA217 Soft Pad, white | Soft pad cushions, low back | Slimmer frame | Everyday home office desks |
| EA219 Soft Pad High Back, white | Soft pad cushions, high back | Tall and slim | Upper-back and head support at a desk |
| EA117 Ribbed, white | Thin ribbed pad, low back | The leanest profile | Minimal rooms and shared desks |
Choose the ES104 if cushioning and presence matter more to you than a slim frame. If you need a chair that slides fully under a narrow desk, one of the Aluminium Group models will be easier to live with.
Who This Chair Suits, and When to Choose Another
The white ES104 suits people who spend part of the day at a desk and part of it in conversation: directors, consultants, architects, therapists and anyone who meets clients in their own office. It also works as a single statement chair at the head of a meeting table, or as reception seating that looks fresh against a pale wall. If you plan to tuck it under a desk, check the clearance first; the FAQ below explains what to measure.
It may not be the right chair for very long, heads-down sessions. The back cushions and arms are fixed to the frame, with no separate lumbar or arm adjustment, so anyone who needs fine ergonomic tuning should look at a dedicated task chair. The same goes for busy shared spaces, where white leather asks for more care than dark.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sederica |
| Model | ES104-style executive office chair, replica |
| Colour | White leather, chrome-plated frame |
| Upholstery | White full-grain leather, hand-stitched, three tufted cushions |
| Fill | Fire-retardant high-resilience foam |
| Arms and side frames | Chrome-plated aluminium, leather arm pads |
| Base | Five-star chrome-plated aluminium, smooth-rolling castors |
| Adjustments | Height, tilt, 360-degree swivel |
| Dimensions | 74 × 69 × 89–97 cm (W × D × H) |
| Net weight | 16.5 kg |
| Assembly | Minor, instructions enclosed |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Caring for White Leather and Chrome
Wipe the leather once a week with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and deal with spills straight away before they settle into the grain. Every six months, clean it with a pH-neutral leather cleaner and follow with a conditioner made for light-coloured leather. Test any product on a hidden spot first.
Keep solvents, bleach, alcohol wipes and household sprays away from the leather, as they can dry it out and damage the finish. Newly dyed dark denim is the most common cause of blue marks on white seats. A quick wipe after a long day in new jeans saves a lot of effort later.
For the chrome, a dry microfibre cloth lifts fingerprints without scratching. Check the castor wheels now and then and clear any hair wound around the axles, the usual reason a chair starts to drag.
Our ES104 is an independent replica inspired by the 1960 design of Charles and Ray Eames, with no connection to any company that produces that design. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
ES104 White Executive Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
Will the white leather stain or turn yellow?
White leather handles daily use well if you wipe spills promptly, but it shows marks sooner than dark leather. Blue dye from new denim and ink are the usual culprits, and both lift more easily while fresh. After some years, especially near a sunny window, white leather can take on a slightly warmer tone. Cleaning with a pH-neutral product and conditioning every six months keeps it bright for longer.
Will the ES104 fit under my desk?
It depends on your desk. Our ES104 is 74 cm wide and 69 cm deep, so the space between your desk legs or pedestals needs to be wider than 74 cm for the chair to tuck in. The fixed arms are the other limit: if they meet the desk frame, the chair parks in front of the desk rather than under it. Send us your desk measurements and we will check the fit before you order.
Who designs and makes this chair?
Sederica sells this chair under its own name as an independent replica. It follows the three-cushion design Charles and Ray Eames created in 1960 for the Time & Life Building in New York. It is not made or endorsed by the Eames family, the Eames Office or any company that produces the design. Our Legal Disclaimer sets out the full terms.
Is the ES104 comfortable for a full working day?
For a normal office day with breaks, yes. The thick high-resilience foam cushions and padded arms give it a softer, more lounge-like sit than the slimmer chairs in our office range, which suits reading, calls and meetings. What it lacks is fine tuning, since there is no separate lumbar support and the arms are fixed. For eight hours of focused desk work with few breaks, a fully adjustable task chair will support you better.
Should I choose white or a darker ES104?
Choose white if your room is bright, your desk is pale wood or white, and you want a large chair that doesn’t look heavy. Choose black for a formal, low-maintenance look, or dark brown and tan brown for warmth next to walnut and darker woods. All four share the same frame, base, cushions and dimensions, so only the leather colour and its care change.
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