A quick apology to my immediate family whom I’ve tortured over the past couple of years as I searched for the perfect office chair. Currently, I sit in a Herman Miller Mirra chair. The best in a long line of chairs to be sure and yet…

I have a new obsession and the object of that obsession is a rather handsome object. The Herman Miller Aluminum Group Executive Management Work Chair or Time Life Chair as it’s more commonly known. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames to grace the lobby of the Time-Life Building it was created as a way to provide the ultra comfort of the Eames Lounge Chair but in a much smaller form.

Aside from its very good looks, I would point out:

1. In 1972, chess grand master Bobby Fischer specifically requested the Eames executive chair while he competed in the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik. He said he could concentrate well in the chair. When his opponent Boris Spaasky saw it, he refused to play until he got one too.

2. Mr. Donald Draper sat in just such a chair. He gave his up. Bad things happened to him.

Locating the chair isn’t an issue as they’re still in production (though I’d prefer an original); however form and function don’t come cheap. For now I’ll have to make due with ogling the 1966 product brochure (download).

Love this furniture concept from design student Shin Yamashita. It consists of three flat mat pieces which can be folded to create a desk, seating or side table.