Eames Molded Plastic Chairs: Authentic Design
Stamped metal prototypes of the designs that eventually became the Eames molded plastic chair.
The Eames molded plastic chair began as an entry in the Museum of Modern Art’s International Low-Cost Furniture Competition. Originally conceived in stamped metal, the entry marked a stop along the journey Charles and Ray Eames undertook to achieve a chair in a single form.
After taking second place in the competition, Charles and Ray remained committed to the form of their design, but continued to investigate other materials. They landed on plastic, which required fiberglass for reinforcement, since without it the plastic of the late 1940s wasn’t strong enough for the single-piece design. While not ideal, the Eames accepted the visible surface fibers as an honest constraint of the material.
They continued their journey. By the early 1970s, plastics had evolved to allow the solid, uniform, matte finish Charles and Ray originally envisioned. When a sustainable polypropylene became available, that was embraced too. As a result, only the Eames molded plastic chairs sold by Herman Miller are approved by the Eames Office and Eames family heirs as an authentic design.
An early advertisement celebrating the versatile styles, colors, and bases of the Eames molded plastic chair.
Randy, here’s some other info on Eames plastic chairs that few people are aware of.
Eames working with Zenith Plastics in California after World War II was aware of their work producing plastic turret mounts for B-24 and 29 series bombers. Gunners inside the mounts fired 20mm guns to ward off attacking enemy planes.
Subsequently, utilizing the Zenirh process and adding fiberglas and resin color he was able to produce the side chair and arm chair shells.
Zenith maintained a supply of these shells in the Zeeland plant. Since we didn’t have enough money to pay for them, they consigned them to us and we paid for them as we sold them!
Later, Century Plastics bought out the Zenith company.
Joe Schwartz