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Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs and Stools

Eames Moulded Fibreglass Chairs, 1950

by Charles and Ray Eames

Product Story

Thanks to a new proprietary process of producing fibreglass, Herman Miller is once again able to produce the Eames original 1950 Moulded Fibreglass Chair safely by means of a less volatile, monomer-free “dry bind” process. Like the Eameses’ original single shell chairs, our new fibreglass finish has the same covetable surface variation and tell-tale fibreglass striation that have attracted avid vintage collectors for decades.

They are available in both the arm and side chair formats in a range of archival colours, and a choice of wire, dowel leg, stacking and 4-leg bases. Armchair and side chair shells can be fully upholstered in a variety of textiles; side chairs are available with an upholstered seat pad. All chairs can be recycled through the Herman Miller Take Back Program. The process for making shells and the nature of fibreglass mean that each shell is unique and can possess traits such as tiny cavities in the surface, small points of lighter or darker colour, or faint circular shadows where base attaches to shell.

For Every Need
Charles Eames famously said “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests”. With the moulded plastic, fibreglass and wood shell chairs, as well as the wire chair, Charles and Ray Eames created a universal response to what everyone wants from a chair: a simple, gracious form that fits any body shape and every place.

In Every Way
Born out of Charles Eames’ and Eero Saarinen’s early investigations into the moulding of plywood at Cranbrook Academy, Michigan, in 1939, and continued with Ray at the Eames studio in Venice, California, the moulded chair is a prime example of the Eames iterative process and their desire to make “the best for the most for the least”. With each new form, finish and configuration, the Eames continued to push the boundaries of what the shell chair could be. After experimenting with single-form plywood and stamped metal, they turned to fibreglass and experimented with bent wire. When fibreglass production proved unhealthy for the environment, the decision was made to switch production to a safer plastic. Today, with advancements in safe fibreglass composition and dynamic veneer technologies, the evolution continues with the Moulded Fibreglass and Moulded Wood Chairs.

For Everyone
The Eames shell chair was designed on the principle of adaptability, offering innumerable configurations to serve a wide variety of applications and environments. It’s what makes the chair a classic worthy of museum collections, as well as living rooms, laundrettes, lobbies and cafés. It’s also what makes it a great first piece of furniture to buy in your twenties, that’s still worthy and relevant enough to hand down to your children 20 years later. A diverse selection of shell, base, colour and finish options enable you to create your perfect chair. Just like every person, every chair has a story.

Visit the Herman Miller website to configurate the product:

https://www.hermanmiller.com/global/en_apc/products/seating/multi-use-guest-chairs/eames-molded-fiberglass-chairs.html

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