Buying guide: Sitting covetably? You are if you own an original Eames chair. If you don't, then here's how to get one - or a modern re- issue.

Century Design 68 Marylebone High Street, London W1, 0171-487 5100, Tues-Sat 11am-7pm. Specialises in 20th-century furniture from designers such as George Nelson, Saarinen, Florence Knoll and currently stocks both original and re-edition Eames furniture, from early designs in plywood to fibreglass, storage units, and films.

Twentieth Century Design 274 Upper Street, London N1, 0171-288 1996, Tues-Sat 11am-7pm. Concentrates on architect-designed pieces, and staged an exhibition of Charles and Ray Eames' work in 1997. Ninety per cent of the stock is original but it also acts as agent for Vitra re-editions. Current examples include rosewood upholstered chairs and some early plywood chair designs.

Vitra 13 Grosvenor Street, London W1, 0171-408 1122, weekdays only, 9am-5.30pm. The only authorised Eames manufacturers in Europe, Vitra sells the range of office and home furniture by Charles and Ray Eames. It also stocks miniature Eames chairs (pounds 50-pounds 150).

Tom Tom 42 New Compton Street, London WC2, 0171-240 7909, Tues-Fri 12-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm. Stockist of postwar furniture, which includes a large selection of rare Eames designs, from Herman Miller first editions onwards, depending on availability. On show currently is a Cheval Eames mirror and bright orange classic compact sofa (1954).

Nice House The Italian Centre Courtyard, Ingram Street, Glasgow, 0141-553 1377, Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm. Contemporary furniture shop, also stocks re-edition Eames copies from Italian manufacturer Funzionlismo.

The Ginnel Gallery 18-22 Lloyd Street, Manchester, 0161-833 9037, Mon- Sat 9.30am-5.30am. Collection of around 30 Fifties and Sixties dealers some of which stock original Eames chairs depending on availability.

Bent Ply Basement B1, Alfies, 13 Church Street, London NW8, 0181-346 1387, Sat only 10am-6pm. Trades in avant-garde furniture from the Thirties and Forties primarily designed by architects. Currently stocks some Eames plywood chair designs.

Haus 3-4 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland, 00 353 1 679 5155, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Original Eames Eckhart-licensee chairs, also stocks a range of Alivar Eames copies.

Bought the chair, now buy the T-shirt ... Born Free has designed a stylish range of Eames T-shirts, one depicting a wire chair from a Fifties Herman Miller advertisement, pounds 35, from Urban Outfitters, 36- 38 Kensington High Street, London W8, 0171-761 1001.

Caption: Clockwise from top

Plywood lounge chair with plywood legs (LCM), Vitra re-issue pounds 375; an original (rare), estimated from pounds 350.

Bent and welded wire side chair with `Eiffel Tower' base, Vitra re-issue from pounds 230; an original, estimated from pounds 375.

Aluminium and leather dining chairs, re-issue from pounds 671; an original, estimated from pounds 375.

Fibreglass-reinforced plastic dining armchair, to be re-issued at the end of the year by Vitra UK (no price guide at present); an original, estimated from pounds 200.

Leather lounge chair, re-issue pounds 2,700; an original, estimated pounds 2,000-pounds 2,500.

Price estimates courtesy of Tom Tom