November 19, 2007
I’d Rather Be Wrong Than Corrected Posted by Julie M. Fenster at 05:10 PM EST I am drawn to the work of Charles and Ray Eames, which astonishes me, actually, because they were designing furniture in the modern days of the mid–twentieth century and I generally place the cutoff date for worthwhile furniture at about 1802. I often remark, in fact, upon the fact that Federal furniture seems completely at home with an Eames lounge chair—and when I often remark upon that fact, I know enough to pronounce the name Ames chair. In the chatter of antique-furniture collectors, I have never heard it otherwise. Last week, I watched a documentary about the Eameses’ California house, with narration by their grandson. He, however, pronounced the name Eems. If history conspires on an untruth, it has to be corrected, of course. And with ferocity. But, more specifically, if I run around referring to Eeeems chairs, I will look unlettered and uncouth, until someone nearby takes pity and nudges a little Ames into the conversation. I think I’ll stick with Ames. But then, one day, some super sophisticate will pronounce it Eeeeeems in my presence, sophisticates tending to drawl, and I will be the dumbbell trying to explain that I knew how to pronounce—but—too lazy—why bother—funny isn’t it? I’m going back to Federal furniture, and this time, for good.
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