Said to be Ray Eames' favourite seats, these walnut stools are a classic piece of "functional art". Though one would assume, for most, it will be the pleasing, chess-like aesthetics rather than the need for extra seating that will be the draw.

"A museum curator once ordered two of these stools for his son and daughter. "Graduation gifts?" he was asked. "No," he said, "the kids are only five and three. But I want them to have the experience of growing up with something truly good that they can keep all their lives.""

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