Decorating
Iconic Designs: The Eames Plastic Chairs
An unmissable collection for lovers of modern furniture, the Eames Plastic chairs exude retro style
This series takes a look at some of the most famous and cherished designs of the past century. From classic chairs to statement lighting, discover the backstory to some of the design world’s most recognisable pieces and browse ways to use them in modern settings.
Charles and Ray Eames were American artists, designers and filmmakers. The couple, who married in 1941, became a very influential design duo of the last century, and are most widely recognised for their contribution to modern furniture design. The Eames fibreglass chairs came onto the market in 1950, after they were entered into a low-cost furniture competition held at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1948. Following the Second World War, there was a desperate need for low-cost housing and furniture, and Charles and Ray worked together with Zenith Plastics to produce a chair that was affordable and could fit into small homes. The use of fibreglass-reinforced plastic meant the chair could be mass-produced at a relatively low cost, but, due to environmental concerns, production in fibreglass was discontinued and today they are made of polypropylene, and produced by Herman Miller and Vitra.
Charles and Ray Eames were American artists, designers and filmmakers. The couple, who married in 1941, became a very influential design duo of the last century, and are most widely recognised for their contribution to modern furniture design. The Eames fibreglass chairs came onto the market in 1950, after they were entered into a low-cost furniture competition held at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1948. Following the Second World War, there was a desperate need for low-cost housing and furniture, and Charles and Ray worked together with Zenith Plastics to produce a chair that was affordable and could fit into small homes. The use of fibreglass-reinforced plastic meant the chair could be mass-produced at a relatively low cost, but, due to environmental concerns, production in fibreglass was discontinued and today they are made of polypropylene, and produced by Herman Miller and Vitra.
The move to plastic
The Eames Plastic chairs are the contemporary versions of their fibreglass predecessor, and have become staples in the design world. The Side Chair and Armchair can be configured in a range of different colours and bases, creating unique items that can be tailored to the look and feel of a room.
Check out Eero Saarinen’s womb chair
The Eames Plastic chairs are the contemporary versions of their fibreglass predecessor, and have become staples in the design world. The Side Chair and Armchair can be configured in a range of different colours and bases, creating unique items that can be tailored to the look and feel of a room.
Check out Eero Saarinen’s womb chair
Eames Plastic Side Chair DSR
The Side Chair DSR features a single shell plastic seat without armrests on top of an interlocking wire rod base. The base has been dubbed the ‘Eiffel tower’ base, as its form is reminiscent of the Parisian landmark.
The Side Chair DSR features a single shell plastic seat without armrests on top of an interlocking wire rod base. The base has been dubbed the ‘Eiffel tower’ base, as its form is reminiscent of the Parisian landmark.
Eames Plastic Armchair DAR
The Armchair DAR is similar, this time with integrated armrests. The wire rod bases of the Side Chair DSR and Armchair DAR create a strong and dramatic aesthetic.
The Armchair DAR is similar, this time with integrated armrests. The wire rod bases of the Side Chair DSR and Armchair DAR create a strong and dramatic aesthetic.
Eames Plastic Side Chair DSW
The DSW chair stands for Dining Side chair Wood base. The four wooden legs are joined by crossing wire rods, lending an industrial edge to the look.
The DSW chair stands for Dining Side chair Wood base. The four wooden legs are joined by crossing wire rods, lending an industrial edge to the look.
Eames Plastic Armchair DAW
Similar to the DSW side chair but with the fuller shell with armrests, the Armchair DAW and Side Chair DSW have quite a different feel to the ‘Eiffel tower’ base of the DSR and DAR. The weight of the Armchair shell creates an interesting, top-heavy aesthetic.
Discover the Castiglioni brothers’ Arco lamp
Similar to the DSW side chair but with the fuller shell with armrests, the Armchair DAW and Side Chair DSW have quite a different feel to the ‘Eiffel tower’ base of the DSR and DAR. The weight of the Armchair shell creates an interesting, top-heavy aesthetic.
Discover the Castiglioni brothers’ Arco lamp
Eames Plastic Side Chair DSS
The base of the Side Chair DSS is much less intricate than the Eiffel or wood base. It’s a more subtle chair and the delicate frame allows the bold orange colour of the seat to be the defining feature.
The base of the Side Chair DSS is much less intricate than the Eiffel or wood base. It’s a more subtle chair and the delicate frame allows the bold orange colour of the seat to be the defining feature.
Eames Plastic Armchair DAX
The Armchair DAX is also available without the integrated armrests – the Side Chair DSX – and is the simplest of the collection. It is an understated and elegant chair, and its plain base allows attention to be focused on the shape and curves of the chair.
The Armchair DAX is also available without the integrated armrests – the Side Chair DSX – and is the simplest of the collection. It is an understated and elegant chair, and its plain base allows attention to be focused on the shape and curves of the chair.
Eames Plastic Armchair RAR
The Eames Rocker – or RAR (Rocking Armchair Rod) - is a classic piece of modernist furniture. Herman Miller, one of the producers of the chair, would give the rocking chair as a gift to employees when they became parents. The name and birthday of the child were inscribed onto a plaque on the back of the chair.
TELL US…
Which Eames Plastic Chair is your favourite? If you own one we would love to see a photo of it in the Comments box below.
The Eames Rocker – or RAR (Rocking Armchair Rod) - is a classic piece of modernist furniture. Herman Miller, one of the producers of the chair, would give the rocking chair as a gift to employees when they became parents. The name and birthday of the child were inscribed onto a plaque on the back of the chair.
TELL US…
Which Eames Plastic Chair is your favourite? If you own one we would love to see a photo of it in the Comments box below.
The collection features single-shell seats, which are made from one continuous material, rather than multiple pieces joined together. The bases were then attached to the seats using hard rubber disks. Mass producing the moulded fibreglass shells was no small feat, and came about after a long process of product development. The material had to be shaped into metal moulds using a hydraulic press.