Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray (1878–1976) was an Irish-born architect and furniture designer who spent most of her career in France, creating pioneering modernist works that were often underappreciated during her lifetime. Trained in lacquerwork, she produced exquisite screens and furniture before turning to architecture, designing the E-1027 house and its furnishings as a complete living environment. Her adjustable E-1027 side table and Bibendum chair demonstrate a rare synthesis of luxury craft and functionalist principles. Gray's reputation has been dramatically restored since the late twentieth century, and her work now commands record prices at auction. Her designs are celebrated for their intelligence, material refinement, and sensitivity to how people actually inhabit spaces. The E-1027 table, Dragons armchair, and lacquer screens continue to inspire designers seeking elegance without pretension, proving that modernism can be warm, sensual, and deeply personal.

Key Characteristics

✓Mastered traditional Japanese lacquerwork techniques
✓Bridged Art Deco luxury and modernist functionalism
✓Designed architecture and furniture as integrated environments
✓Created adjustable, user-centered furniture forms
✓Pioneered women's contributions to modernist design
✓Balanced geometric rigor with sensual materiality

Types & Variations

E-1027 Adjustable Side Table (1927)

Bibendum Chair (1926)

Dragons Armchair (1917–1919)

Transat Chair (1927)

E-1027 House and interiors

Common Materials

Lacquered woodTubular chrome steelLeatherCorkPerforated metalGlass

Works Well With These Styles

Modern Art Deco Minimalist Contemporary Mid Century Modern

Placement & Usage Tips

Gray's E-1027 table is perfect beside a sofa or bed, where its adjustable height and cantilevered top allow it to swing over surfaces. Pair her pieces with warm textiles and natural materials to capture her humanistic approach to modernism.

💡 Pro Tip

Eileen Gray designed for intimacy and comfort within a modern framework. Use her work as inspiration to soften minimalist spaces—add a luxurious throw to a clean-lined sofa, or place an E-1027 table where it can serve multiple functions throughout the day.