Herman Miller - Eames Molded Plastic Chairs

The current models looks exactly the same as the originals. They remain unupholstered, in keeping with the Eameses requirement that materials be expressed honestly and unselfconsciously. In fact, these were the first one-piece plastic chairs to be left uncovered.

At the same time, the chairs are better than ever. For example, the shell is now manufactured using more environmentally friendly, high-impact plastic.

The first successfully mass-produced molded plastic chairs, these were molded in fiberglass reinforced polyester and designed by Charles Eames (1907-1978) in 1948.

They were introduced in 1951 by the Herman Miller Furniture Company and were produced in a variety of individual variations through 1995.

This DAR (dining and desk chair) model illustrated has a lightweight structural wire base, often called the "Eiffel Tower". The RAR version had birch wood rockers on the bottom. Other standard models (DAX, LAX and SAX) had more traditional bent metal legs, some with swivel seats.

This design was originated by Eames in a similar organically-shaped one-piece stamped metal bucket seat in his winning design in the Museum of Modern Art's international competition for Low Cost Furniture Design in 1948. The competition was in collaboration with furniture retailers like Herman Miller, who agreed to produce the winning designs commercially.

In 1946, Eames' original molded plywood chairs had been made by Evans Products Company and distributed by Herman Miller. In 1947 George Nelson (1908-1986) bought the tooling for Herman Miller, which then continued production until 1957. In 1994, they were re-introduced.

Plastic Armchair: DAW, PAW
(dining height armchair wood base)
(pivot armchair wood base)

PAW: This is also the plastic armchair manufactured by Zenith. The steel rods support the wood legs ("dowel legs") with a swivel. As this wonderful model illustrates, Charles was particularly skillful at combining different kinds of materials. Because the wood legs break easily, very few of these Plastic Armchairs remain in complete and good condition.

Plastic Armchair: DAR, LAX
(dining height armchair r-wire base)
(lounge height armchair x-base)

The chair bases were made of metal rods that were resistance-welded for stability. Like most of the Eames' furniture, the bases aquired funny descriptive names from consumers, names like cat's cradle, X-base, and the Eiffel Tower. The Eames' fiberglass chairs were eventually offered with over two-dozen different bases that rocked, swiveled, rolled, adjusted, or just "sat" there.

Plastic Armchair: LAR, RAR
(lounge height armchair r-wire base)
(rocking armchair r-wire base)

RAR: This plastic armchair on a rocker-base comprised of wood rockers and steel rod legs was manufactured by Zenith. This model is rare, for it was only produced during the first year of the Eames rocker-based chairs, and subsequent models had a slightly different rod configuration. The rocker version of the Plastic Armchair was produced for commercial sale until 1968. Until 1984, Herman Miller gave this chair as a gift to everyone of his employees who became a parent.

The Eames Molded Plastic Rocker (1948), often known as the RAR (rocking armchair rod), was out of production for 30 years before being brought back with the blessings of the Eames Office. Originally manufactured in fiberglass-reinforced plastic, this classic rocker was updated in durable and environmentally friendly molded polypropylene. This molded shell has a deep seat pocket, integrated armrests and a high backrest. The waterfall seat edge promotes comfortable seating for extended periods of time by reducing pressure on the backs of thighs. The iconic Eames wire base is set atop two maple runners for a smooth rocking motion that brings enjoyment to contract and residential settings. This original is an authentic, fully licensed product of Herman Miller, Inc. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller, Inc.

Dimensions:

H 26.5" W 24.5" D 27" Seat H 16" Arm H 23.5"
Materials:
Batch-dyed polypropylene shell; chromed steel base; hard maple runners with clear laquer finish.

Plastic Armchair: PAC, DAT
(pivot armchair on cast base)
(dining height armchair tilt swivel base)

DAT: Manufactured by Herman Miller, the height of this armchair can be adjusted by a tilting unit located under the shell. The base with full swiveling casters is common to all Eames chairs designed for office use. The die-cast aluminum foot pieces are characteristic of the works after the Aluminum Group (1958). The rather Spartan design of this base has a very different charm from the earlier chairs.

Commonly referred to as Eiffel chairs, the Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Side Chair (1948) were the first industrially manufactured plastic chairs. In creating these classic pieces, the Eameses honed two techniques with which they had been grappling for years: the use of a bent and welded wire base and a sculpted plastic shell seat. The results are supremely comfortable and timeless. Originally made with fiberglass-reinforced plastic, these chairs now take advantage of the benefits of more eco-friendly polypropylene. The molded shell seat has a high, flexible back and a deep seat pocket. The waterfall seat edge promotes comfortable seating for extended periods of time by reducing pressure on the backs of thighs. For residential and commercial use.

Dimensions:

H 32" W 24.5" D 23.5" Seat H 16.5" Arm H 26"
Materials:
Polypropylene; chrome-plated steel base; plastic glides.

Plastic Side Chair: DSR, DSG, LSR, DSS-TA
(dining height side chair r-wire base)
(dining height side chair wall guard base)
(lounge height side chair r-wire base)
(dining height side chair stacking table base)

n 1950, the Eameses developed the first model of the "armless" side shell chair manufactured by Zenith Plastics, makers of the earlier bucket shell chair.

Bases available for this side chair were rod-legged, cast aluminum pedestal, swivel, wire strut which is known as the "Eiffel-tower" base, wood-legged, or wood rockers on wire struts. The later production model of this chair had a lighter seat and new H-base leg configuration. It also used the sturdy first generation self-leveling glides for the new, hollow leg configuration. The shells themselves have not changed their sculptural shape in over 50 years of production, having maintained their visual appeal as originally designed.

Dimensions:

H 31.5" W 18.5" D 22" Seat H 17.5"
Materials:
Polypropylene; chrome-plated steel base; plastic glides.

Stacking Chair: DSS
(dining height side chair stacking base)

Wire or four-legged base

18.5" w | 22" d | 29.87" h
Stacks up to 14 chairs high.