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Computer House of Cards

Playing Card
1970 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Charles and Ray Eames are best known for their iconic modern furniture designs, but they also undertook other work for major companies such as IBM. They were responsible for the exhibitions, graphics, signage, and films for IBM’s pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in 1964-5. Later, they also designed a deck of cards for the IBM Pavilion at the 1970 World's Fair in Osaka, Japan. The cards were given away to visitors as souvenirs.
Each card has six slots, and is printed with an image of computer components. They can be assembled to make three-dimensional representations of the mainframe computer hardware that was becoming in the 1970s.



Object details

Object type
TitleComputer House of Cards (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
One of a set of 56 cards. Computer House of Cards, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for IBM, 1970
Physical description
The image on one side of the card depicts a part of the inner workings of a pre-microchip computer. The reverse of the card is white with a black circle and straight lines spreading outside it from the centre in a spoke like pattern.
Production typeLimited edition
Object history
The Computer House of Cards, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, date back to the IBM Pavilion during the 1970 World’s Fair in Osaka, Japan. They are were created as souvenirs for guests and were printed only once.
Production
Designed for the IBM Pavilion during the 1970 World’s Fair in Osaka, Japan.
They were created as souvenirs for guests, and were printed only once.
Summary
Charles and Ray Eames are best known for their iconic modern furniture designs, but they also undertook other work for major companies such as IBM. They were responsible for the exhibitions, graphics, signage, and films for IBM’s pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in 1964-5. Later, they also designed a deck of cards for the IBM Pavilion at the 1970 World's Fair in Osaka, Japan. The cards were given away to visitors as souvenirs.
Each card has six slots, and is printed with an image of computer components. They can be assembled to make three-dimensional representations of the mainframe computer hardware that was becoming in the 1970s.

Collection
Accession number
E.2700:1 to 57-2016

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Record createdJuly 26, 2016
Record URL
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