Our Eames soft pad high back EA219 is a replica of the 1969 high-back desk chair, upholstered in tan Italian aniline leather over a polished chrome aluminium frame. Three stitched pads run up the back and a fourth forms the seat, so you get the deep, cushioned feel of the soft pad design with support that carries on past your shoulder blades.
We make it for people who spend most of the day at a desk and want a warm classic high back rather than the formality of black leather. It shares its seat, width and depth with our EA217 soft pad chairs. The difference is the taller back, which changes how the chair feels every time you lean back.
Eames Soft Pad High Back EA219: Key Features
- Four hand-stitched pads: three on the back and one on the seat, so the cushioning follows your back in sections instead of pressing flat like a single board.
- A back that rises about 59 cm above the seat: your shoulder blades stay supported when you lean into the tilt to read or take a long call.
- Italian aniline leather where you sit and lean: dyed through rather than painted on, so it feels soft and warm and slowly deepens in tone with use.
- Fire-retardant high-resilience foam: springs back after you stand up, and is a sensible choice for shared offices and studios.
- Polished chrome aluminium arms and side spines: a bright outline around the tan leather that keeps the whole chair at 14 kg.
- Seat height 48–57 cm, tilt and 360-degree swivel: lean back between tasks or turn to a shelf without getting up.
- Five-star chrome aluminium base on castors: rolls easily between desk and meeting table in a home office or a small boardroom.
Eames Soft Pad High Back Office Chair, Tan Brown: Why the Taller Back?
Worked out from our listed sizes, the top of the back sits about 59 cm above the seat at the lowest setting. On our EA217 the same figure is about 43 cm, so the EA219 gives you roughly 16 cm more back. You notice it most when you tilt: on the low chair your upper back meets air, on this one it meets another pad.
That makes the high back the better choice if you read, review drawings or spend long stretches on calls. If your day is short bursts of typing and you get up often, the lower chair is lighter to look at and does the same job.
Colour matters more on a tall chair, because four panels of leather make the back the largest thing behind your desk. Tan keeps that surface light against white walls and pale floors, where a tall black back can look heavy. On video calls the top pad often shows behind your shoulders, and a warm mid-tone stands out better against a dark bookshelf than black does.
In our product photos the leather reads as a warm, slightly orange tan. If you have been searching for a cognac brown leather EA219 high back office chair, this is our closest shade. Screens differ, though, and aniline leather varies a little from hide to hide.
Eames EA219 Brown Leather Office Chair: Leather, Foam and Frame
The seat and the front of the back pads are covered in Italian aniline leather. Aniline hides are dyed through without a heavy pigment layer on top, so the natural grain and small marks stay visible. The surface feels softer and warmer than coated leather, and it darkens gently where your hands and back rest most.
Each pad is filled with fire-retardant high-resilience foam and finished with hand stitching. The stitched seams split the back into three pads, which lets the cushioning step with the curve of your spine instead of forming one stiff slab.
The arms, the side spines and the five-star base are polished chrome aluminium. Aluminium keeps the chair light enough for one person to carry up a flight of stairs, and the chrome gives the tan leather a clean edge. A lever under the seat works the gas lift, and the tilt lets the chair ease back as you lean.
One honest note: we left the arms as bare polished chrome, with no pads. They look sharp against tan leather, but bare metal feels cool under your forearms on a winter morning. Bear that in mind if you work in short sleeves in a cold room.
Soft Pads on an Aluminium Frame: The 1969 Story
Charles and Ray Eames introduced the Soft Pad Group in 1969, adding thick stitched cushions to the aluminium frame of their 1958 Aluminium Group. The Eames Institute records a studio story, possibly apocryphal, that a cushion made for the Eames Chaise was draped over a worn aluminium chair and the idea stuck. Its record of a 1969 EA219 describes the high back as an executive desk chair that cost less and offered more options than the Eames Executive Chair. It also notes the double-needle top stitching used to keep the cushions intact, and the coating once applied to the arms so the aluminium did not feel too cold or too warm.
You can read more about the couple on our Charles and Ray Eames page.
EA219 Office Chair Dimensions and Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sederica |
| Model | Eames-style EA219 (also written EA 219) soft pad high back, replica |
| Colour | Tan leather, polished chrome aluminium frame |
| Upholstery | Italian aniline leather where you sit and lean, hand-stitched finish |
| Pads | Four: three stacked back pads and one seat pad |
| Filling | Fire-retardant high-resilience foam |
| Arms and side spines | Polished chrome aluminium, fixed, no arm pads |
| Base | Five-star chrome aluminium base with castors |
| Functions | Gas-lift seat height, tilt, 360-degree swivel |
| Seat to top of back | About 59 cm (worked out from the overall height at the lowest setting) |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Feature | Chair |
|---|---|
| Overall width | 59 cm |
| Overall depth | 63 cm |
| Overall height | 107–113 cm |
| Seat height | 48–57 cm (adjustable) |
| Net weight | 14 kg |
Fit Check: Your Height, Your Desk and Your Day
This Eames EA219 office chair in tan brown is built for long seated days. A few minutes with a tape measure will tell you whether it suits your body and your desk.
A good fit if
- You spend most of the working day seated and like to lean back between tasks.
- You want a cushioned seat rather than the firm, sprung feel of a thin pad chair.
- You are average height or tall. The seat rises to 57 cm, which suits longer legs at a standard desk.
- Clients, colleagues or a camera will see your chair, and you want a mid-century tan executive look in your home office.
Consider another chair if
- You are on the shorter side. The lowest seat height is 48 cm. Sit on any chair with your shoes on and measure from the floor to the crease behind your knee: if it is under 48 cm, plan on a footrest.
- You need adjustable lumbar support, seat depth or arm height. This chair has none of those, so a dedicated task chair will suit you better.
- Your desk has a drawer or a low apron. The arms are fixed, so check the clearance under the desktop before ordering.
- You prefer firm support or a slimmer outline. Our EA119 high back thin pad in camel has the same tall profile with ribbed leather.
- You want the chair to sit low in front of a window or in a meeting room. Our EA217 soft pad low back in black keeps the same pads with a shorter back.
Eames EA219 Replica Tan Brown vs Our Other Desk Chairs
| Chair | Back | How it feels | Size (W × D × H) | Net weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA219 Soft Pad High Back, Tan (this chair) | High, three back pads | Thick, cushioned pads | 59 × 63 × 107–113 cm | 14 kg | Long seated days, leaning back to read |
| EA217 Soft Pad Low Back | Low | Same soft pads, less back | 59 × 63 × 91–97 cm | 12.5 kg | Compact desks, shorter sessions |
| EA119 High Back Thin Pad, Camel | High, ribbed | Firm and sprung | 59 × 67 × 106–117 cm | 13 kg | Firm support, slimmer look |
| ES104 Lobby Chair, Tan Brown | Mid, three tufted cushions | Deep cushions, wider frame | 74 × 69 × 89–97 cm | 16.5 kg | Large desks and reception areas |
The ES104 is 15 cm wider than the EA219, so measure the space between desk pedestals if you are choosing between the two. You can see every model side by side in our Eames-style office chair collection.
Daily Care for Tan Aniline and Polished Chrome
- Run a soft brush along the stitched seams between the pads once a week. On a high back, that is where dust and crumbs settle first.
- Hang coats and bags on a hook, not over the top pad. Zips, studs and buckles scratch aniline leather, and a heavy bag pulls at the top seam over time.
- Blot spills with a dry cloth straight away. Do not rub, because rubbing pushes liquid deeper into open-grained leather.
- Condition the leather twice a year with a colourless cream made for aniline leather. Test it first under the front edge of the seat.
- Wipe the chrome arms with a dry microfibre cloth. Hand cream and sanitiser leave a dull film on polished metal.
- Every few months, tip the chair on its side and pull hair and thread from the castor axles so it keeps rolling freely.
- On oiled parquet or soft wood floors, use a clear chair mat. We have not listed soft castors for hard floors on this chair.
Eames Soft Pad High Back Chair Replica: Your Questions
What is the difference between the EA219 and the EA217?
The back height. EA219 vs EA217 is high back vs low back: our EA219 stands 107–113 cm tall against 91–97 cm for our EA217, and weighs 14 kg against 12.5 kg. Width, depth, seat height range, leather and frame are the same. Choose by how much of your back you want supported and how much chair you want to see behind the desk.
Is the high-back soft pad chair suitable for tall users?
For most tall people, yes. The seat rises to 57 cm and the back reaches about 59 cm above the seat, which brings support up to shoulder level. There is no headrest, so if you want to rest your head, choose a chair that has one. The tilt and tall back give general ergonomic support, but this is a design-led executive chair, not a medical or orthopaedic one.
How soft are the pads compared with a thin pad chair?
Noticeably softer. The EA219 seat and back are thick foam pads that you sink into slightly. Our EA119 and EA117 use thin ribbed leather stretched across the frame, which feels firmer and springier. Our soft pad vs thin pad guide compares the two in detail.
Can the arms be adjusted, and will the chrome feel cold?
No, the arms are fixed to the frame, and they are bare polished chrome with no pads. The metal feels cool at first in a cold room and warms as you use it. Before ordering, check that your desk leaves enough clearance under its top for fixed arms, especially if it has a drawer.
How is our EA219 replica different from the 1969 production chair?
We follow the layout that defines the design: stacked stitched pads, polished aluminium side spines and arms, and a five-star base. The leather, foam and mechanism are our own specification. Our seat also sits higher, at 48–57 cm, than the roughly 38.5–50 cm range retailers list for the current production chair, so shorter buyers should check the fit section above. Our guide to replicas and reproductions explains the terms.
Our EA219 is a Sederica reproduction inspired by the work of Charles and Ray Eames. It is not made, approved or endorsed by the Eames Office or any holder of rights in Eames designs. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
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