The Eames Molded Plastic Chair perfectly embodies its creator’s famous creed: “The role of the designer is that of being a very good, attentive host, anticipating the needs of his guests.” Designed with the creed of adaptability in mind, the chair offers a Variety of configurations for a variety of applications and environments. Today, the Eames Molded Plastic Chair can be found in homes, cafes, bars, lobbies and offices around the world, proving that the chair is a truly versatile piece of furniture.
Story
The chair was designed by the design team around husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames and dates back to a time when the famous duo was experimenting with new materials and manufacturing processes. The prototype of the chair first came to the fore in 1948 at the International Competition for Inexpensive Furniture Design organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The prototype seat was made of sheet metal pressed into the desired shape. Still, the Eames continued to push the limits of the shell chair, leading to the introduction of the fiberglass chair seat in 1950. Despite the relatively simple design, the environmental risks associated with fiberglass manufacture were better understood and the balance was positive in discontinuing fiberglass shell production until a more suitable material could be found. The chair was brought back to life in 2001 by furniture company Herman Miller, who re-launched the Eames Molded Plastic Chair with a seat made from eco-friendly polypropylene.
design
The overall look of the chair is extremely appealing and stylish. It’s very proportionate and balanced, and using the frame base makes it feel both airy and light. In contrast to fully upholstered furniture, it does not block the room in which it is placed, but rather improves the sense of space. Even today, almost seven decades after its presentation, the chair has neither aged nor become banal. It still looks fresh and contemporary. This quality of good design is particularly well exemplified by the couple’s grandson, Eames Demetrios, who once said, “The chair that Charles and Ray designed is the chair that will be made tomorrow.” The chair’s simple, endearing form adapts to every body and every place. Although the chair looks like a masterpiece of modern art, it is fully functional and surprisingly comfortable.
The shell is made of polypropylene, which is 100 percent recyclable. The high level of comfort is due to the deep seat pocket and waterfall seat edge that reduce pressure on the back of the user’s thighs. To achieve absolute comfort, customers can order the chair with dense foam padding covered with various durable fabrics. Another item on Eames’ list of inventions, the rubber damper mounts sit between the shell and the base, allowing the chair to be adjusted to the user’s position. The chair is available with four different bases: 4-leg base, stackable base, wire base and wooden dowel base. In the first two variants, the base consists of bent steel tubes. The wire variant is far more sophisticated and appealing, resembling the truss construction of the Eiffel Tower. Last but not least, the wooden dowel base, as the name suggests, consists of four wooden dowels that come to a point at both ends. The dowels are spanned with the diagonal crossbars, providing additional structural strength. The chair is available in various configurations with upholstery and wood finishes including: maple, white ash, ash white stained ash and walnut. At the customer’s request, the metal parts of the chair can be painted white or black and chrome-plated. These diverse possibilities enable the customer to individually design their perfect chair. This piece of furniture is a perfect combination of amazing form and exceptional functionality. It still looks fresh and intriguing and makes a great, tasteful addition to any contemporary interior.
