A Tumbleweed to Celebrate Love

A particular object in the house has no monetary value, but is overflowing with sentimental value to the Eameses: their honeymoon tumbleweed. Charles and Ray Eames were wed at a close friend’s home in Chicago in the year 1941. The two were in agreement that it would be best to relocate from the Midwest in search of a new home free of distractions — perfect for the desire to continue molded plywood furniture experimentations. The Eameses chose Los Angeles as this hopeful destination, packed everything they owned into a Ford convertible, and spent their honeymoon heading west. During their travels, Charles and Ray acquired an oddly-formed tumbleweed from the desertscape of Arizona. Today, the tumbleweed celebrates its 68th year spinning from the steel truss of the interior of the Eames House living room (it lived suspended from the ceiling for eight years at their previous abode: a Neutra apartment in Westwood), acting as a memorable symbol of their partnership.

Stay tuned for a future update of the Eames Foundation’s top ten most important objects inside the Eames House.

Published by: Kelsey Rose Williams