Style Icon mid centuryimagined for children, but adopted by the whole family: the Eames coat rack and its multicolored balls have stood the test of time without taking a single wrinkle.
Indeed, there are these objects whose design is so successful that they do not need to change one iota. This is the case of the famous Hang-It-All coat rack created by the no less famous couple Charles and Ray Eames, easily recognizable by the 14 colored balls that make it up.
“It was invented in 1953, and since then, the design has never changed,” says Vanessa Sicotte, author of the Damask & Dentelle decoration blog and the podcast show Deco therapy. “The design itself was really simple, but it became super iconic, and it was perfect from the start. »
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PHOTO FROM THE MAISON PRUNELLE WEBSITE
Robust, the coat rack is nevertheless gentle on clothes, thanks to its multicolored balls.
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PHOTO FROM THE MAISON PRUNELLE WEBSITE
Reissued by Vitra in Europe and Herman Miller in America, in particular, the coat rack is now available in several colors.
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PHOTO FROM EAMES OFFICE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
The object came out of the children’s room to make its way into all the rooms of the house, or almost.
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The object is made up of eight hooks made of white steel rods, crowned at their ends with as many wooden balls, each painted a different color. Around it gravitate six small additional balls, which Vanessa Sicotte compares to “small satellites”. The set is hung on a very simple rectangular base.
This is how the Hang-It-All coat rack was born and, in all its simplicity and cleverness, it would become a classic in millions of homes from yesterday to today.
A range of toys
We know the legendary designer couple Charles and Ray Eames best for their chairs, but what we know less about him is that he also wanted to design toys, underlines Vanessa Sicotte, also a design historian and who is particularly interested in female design. As an example, she mentions the two designers’ elephant, a kind of stool that serves as decoration in children’s rooms. “They made several objects like that, and the Hang-It-All was for this collection. When it came out, it was actually a toy company that produced it. »
PHOTO FROM THE MAISON PRUNELLE WEBSITE
The Elephant, another children’s design from the Eames duo
In fact, its playful design, which is a little reminiscent of chemical molecules, or even billiard balls, is ideal for children, remarks Vanessa Sicotte. The goal was for them to hang whatever they want on it, not just their clothes, but also toys and all sorts of accessories. For this reason, the support is robust, and it is no coincidence that its base is made of the same steel rods as the Eiffel chair, another great classic of the Eames family.
Brilliant Concept
But from children’s rooms, the medium has found its way into every room of the house (except the bathroom, where humidity could harm it). Perhaps because in addition to being solid, the lacquered wooden balls with which it is equipped protect the clothes which are hung there. “When you think of the hooks we have at home, they are always very sharp, they can deform sweaters, notes Vanessa Sicotte. While these balls not only are safe for children, but at the same time brilliant for clothing. »
In 2012, to mark the centenary of the birth of Ray Eames – who died in 1988 – the Swiss company Vitra reissued the coat rack in different colours, namely red, green and white. Today, it can be found in several shades, including mahogany, or even black, the one for which Vanessa Sicotte has opted for her own house.
Where to find it?
In Quebec, the EQ3 store sells the Eames Hang-It-All through Herman Miller, a company recognized for the resale of objects mid century. The product is available in six colors, in-store and online. Cost: $419 (white or black are however offered at $348).
Maison Prunelle also offers reproductions of the coat rack in its store on Mont-Royal Avenue East, or online. For the moment, the multicolored, white and black are offered, but other colors should be added. Cost: $99.