toys
The Eameses also often turned their attention to the creation of children’s playthings. In 1951 they created a colorful system of triangular building blocks, which they called The Toy. It was commercially produced for several seasons. The Eameses’ most successful undertaking along these lines was their House of Cards, which used slotted playing cards. Between 1952 and 1970, four versions of House of Cards were produced.
The Eameses were in the habit of photographing anything they found interesting:
shells, stones, feathers, ornaments, examples of typography.
They used such photographs for the cards of House of Cards. When the cards are put together, the images combine in a random way, not unlike the way in which computers process information. It is no accident that the last version of House of Cards was made in 1970 for the IBM pavilion at the World’s Fair in Osaka.
House of Cards
Photo courtesy of Wright Auctions
House of Cards
House of Cards
storage
A series of storage units designed by Charles Eames
The Eameses’ marvellous storage system, the ESU (Eames Storage Unit), uses the connection principles of a children’s construction set, consisting of easily combined vertical and horizontal elements. The parts come in many different finishes and colors.
Storage units
Photos courtesy of Vitra
Storage unit
Photo by
Marc Eggimann
© Vitra
1950
78
s
later years