Herman Miller Reintroduces the Dowel-Leg Base to the Eames Molded Plastic Chairs
November 23, 2009
Herman Miller is returning the dowel-leg base to the popular Eames molded plastic chairs. Reengineered for improved strength, the maple dowel legs stay true to the original design by Charles and Ray Eames and also provide a softer aesthetic base option.
"We first reintroduced the Eames molded plastic chairs in 2001, and then dramatically increased the offering in 2005 as part of our 'Get Real' campaign for authenticity. We're reinforcing our commitment to this campaign by offering the dowel base," says product manager Gregg Vander Kooi.
The Eameses designed their molded plastic armchair in 1948 for entry in the International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture organized by the New York Museum of Modern Art. Herman Miller introduced the armchair, along with a companion side chair in 1950, and they soon found broad acceptance in residential and institutional markets--becoming the first mass-produced plastic chairs.
The dowel-leg base joins four other original base options, including the wire base (also known as the Eiffel Tower base), four-legged base, stacking base, and rocker. It is available both with side chair or armchair shells, and the current set of shell colors, including black, red, white, light blue, and lime green.
The Eames molded plastic chairs are available from Herman Miller dealers and retailers, which can be located by searching www.hermanmiller.com/stores. The minimum advertised price for the dowel-leg base begins at $399.
About Herman Miller, Inc.
Herman Miller works for a better world around you—with inventive designs, technologies and related services that improve the human experience wherever people work, heal, learn, and live. Its curiosity, ingenuity, and design excellence create award-winning products and services, resulting in more than $1.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2009. Innovative business practices and a commitment to social responsibility have also established Herman Miller as a recognized global company. In 2009, Herman Miller was again cited by FORTUNE as both the "Most Admired" in its industry and among the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America, while Fast Company named Herman Miller among the innovative "Companies to Watch." Herman Miller trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.