What was the Eames CTW coffee table?
Released as part of the 1946 plywood group of furniture, CTW was the abbreviated name of the Coffee (C) Table (T) with a Wood (W) base. The Eames CTW Coffee Table consisted of a circular five-layer plywood top, sat upon four matching legs of bent ply to a near 90 degrees.
The plywood group was the first to be released to the general market for adults by the Eames Office in 1946. The furniture was manufactured first by the Evans Molded Plywood Company and sold through distributor Herman Miller. Miller then bought and took over the range entirely from 1950.
The group was the first of many from the Eames Office to consist of identical tops and different bases to create varying choices. This would famously be a theme for Eames design and seen to an even greater scale with the fiberglass range. The CTW had two matching all wood chairs in the group, the dining DCW and the lounge LCW as well as a sister rectangular table, the OTW. The Eames CTW Coffee Table and matching chairs were also replicated with metal legs and so named the CTM, DCM and LCM.
The Eames CTW tables were initially available with a choice of three natural veneers in Birch, Calico Ash and Walnut as well as a dyed red or black finish. After Herman Miller took over, they added a natural Oak to the list of available options. The tables were discontinued in 1954 but would be part of the re-release of classic Eames designs in 1994. These later versions would retain the 5 layers of ply in the table build but would use modern veneers including White Ash, new Walnut and Santos Palisander. The colored versions too would be a painted finish as opposed to the aniline dyes but into the 2010's and the use of dye is being used again with the plywood furniture.
What are the original sizes of the Eames CTW coffee table?
What materials were used to make the Eames CTW Coffee Table?
The lifespan of the Eames CTW coffee table was relatively short given that it was released in 1946 and only ran through 1954. That said, those short years saw a number of significant changes to the manufacture of the table which we declare as 'generations'. Generations in this, and any other furniture design, were not intended at the time, nor likely considered, but we can pinpoint these characteristics to help us age and valuate what we have.
The first Eames CTW tables were refined throughout 1945 and released to the marketplace in 1946. The first generation table can be found only by looking to the underside.
The center of the table top underside used an additional Octagonal block shaped to meet the four legs in position. Though perhaps easier in initial construction it was essentially an extra wood section that would be efficiently removed with refinement.
The Evans tables would have either a paper or foil label or with no label at all the model number would likely be scrawled to the underside of the table top.
The second generation of the Evans made Eames CTW tables would see some minor subtle changes.
Most notable was that the additional Octagonal center block on the underside of the table was changed to a more material efficient four 'arrow heads' on the leg ends, which met perfectly in the center.
The second generation, as with the first generation, retained the flat head wood screws in its construction.
The table is found mostly with the Evans Foil label as means of identification.
Following a period whereby Herman Miller manufactured the table for Evans, they took over all rights and production for the company following their acquisition. This can make some early HM tables difficult to spot during the cross-over period.
As Herman Miller generally begun to improve quality, they changed the flat head screws to that with the cross-head. As well as labels, Herman Miller also stamped the model number into the underside of the top itself as a means of further identification. They also added Oak as an option to the range.
The fourth generation is that of the Herman Miller tables since the re-release of the table in 1994.
The post 1994 tables stay relatively true to the original Miller version of the 1950's with some subtle changes. The screw types tend to be of higher quality finish and with a rounded head.
The colored post 1994 Herman Miller tables were solid painted red and black as opposed to being dyed. The modern labels of the tables should be that of the black strip, silver strip, oval and or oblong modern variants.
Is my Eames CTW coffee table authentic? What makes it valuable?
All variations of the table, from the original 1940's Evans through the 50's Herman Miller and re-released 90's classic, will all have had labels to help identify and authenticate the pieces.
Modern copies are quite prevalent but they lack the quality of the materials, especially the wood types and they even don't use the correct number of plywood layers in some cases, which are visible along the edge. The majority of far east copies do not intend to be passed off as originals in any case but since they are beginning to enter the secondary market it is important to be careful.
The value of the table is determined by three factors, namely age, condition and wood type. The Evans made tables, especially the rare first generation, will yield the highest collector value.
Coffee tables tend to wear due to being used for placing objects onto and their position in the center of the home. They often show scratches, cup rings, knocks and chips in the edges. All of these elements will decrease value should they be there. Tops displaying a large amount of wear should be considered for restoration.
Early aniline dye tables in red or black tend to fade over time and any displaying a strong color will retain value. In post 1994 tables the colors were painted. Custom made Rosewood vintage tables have been seen rarely and these always attain a very high price due to the desirability of the wood.