It’s hard to believe that developing splints — and producing them in the thousands for the U.S. Navy during World War II — would eventually lead to the creation of one of the most iconic midcentury-modern furniture pieces: the Eames molded plywood chair. But, this is a true story. That exploratory nature, along with a function-meets-form design sensibility, helped catapult the Eameses into becoming the first “it” couple of American modernism. As August 21 marks the day that both Charles and Ray Eames passed away, a decade apart, we reflect on 10 of the duo’s best-known product designs, from furniture and textile to a whimsical accessory and game.
Eames Office
LCW/DCW Molded Plywood Chairs (1945 – 1946)
Charles and Ray were experimenting with wood-molding techniques in the early 1940s and eventually discovered that applying heat and pressure achieved desirable results. This not only led to a massive U.S. Navy commission for plywood splints and stretchers from the pair, but also the first molded-plywood chair prototypes. Finally, the Eameses eschewed the original design concept of a single shell in favor of a more structurally sound and flexible chair featuring separate back and seat components. Each part was contoured to more naturally support the human body. Today, Herman Miller manufactures these chairs in a range of finishes, with or without upholstery and on wood or tubular metal legs.
LCW Molded Plywood Chair
DCW Molded Plywood Chair
CTW Molded Plywood Coffee Table (1946)
It was only logical that the pair would apply the same breakthrough technology used to create the molded plywood chair to other types of furniture. The CTW coffee table was one of a few table designs they came up with. Its round plywood top sports a subtle indentation and a super-lean profile and rests on tubular metal or bentwood legs. Herman Miller produces the table today with a walnut, natural cherry, ebony or white ash finish.
CTW Molded Plywood Coffee Table
Dot Pattern (1947)
This graphic upholstery textile is at once sophisticated and playful, with a pattern motif that resembles abstracted jacks pieces. Today, New York City–based Maharam weaves the pattern in two scales in a cotton-polyester blend and in a range of colorways but also offers Dot Pattern on readymade cushions.
Dot Pattern
La Chaise (1948)
Originally created for a Museum of Modern Art competition, this chaise lounge was partially inspired by the 1935 sculpture Floating Figure by Gaston Lachaise (get it?). Its quirky asymmetrical shape is molded to a human body’s natural recline and is mounted onto metal stems that are in turn mounted onto a wooden X-base. Vitra currently manufactures La Chaise with a white-lacquer polyurethane shell, chrome-plated tubular steel and solid natural oak cruciform base.
La Chaise
Molded Fiberglass Chair (1950 – 1951)
Continuing to push the limits of molded plywood and plastic, the Eameses managed to perfect the single-piece seat shell in plywood, plastic and fiberglass. Herman Miller uses a proprietary fiberglass-production process that is a lot more eco-friendly. The current version comes with or without arms, in eight archival colors on wire, dowel-leg, stacking, rocker or four-leg base and can be upholstered on the interior.
Molded Fiberglass Chair
Wire Chair (1951)
Building on the same form as the molded fiberglass and plywood one-piece shell, the Wire Chair adds lightness through “transparency” or, rather, openness of a welded steel-wire mesh construction. Depending on the continent, the chair is currently manufactured by Vitra or Herman Miller and can be specified with optional upholstered wedges for added comfort.
Wire Chair
Eames House of Cards (1952)
These slotted cards boast an assortment of eye-catching imagery that, depending on the deck, range from vibrantly hued patterns and science-and-math-inspired graphic design to photographs of animals, natural formations and objects and still life. Available in Small, Medium and Giant sizes, it’s sold through Eames Office, MoMA Design Stores, Vitra and many other museum and retail shops to this day.
Eames House of Cards
Hang It All (1953)
Visually playful, this wall-mounted coatrack features varied-size, metal-wire arms finished with ball-shaped end caps meant to evoke an arachnid or insect in a nonthreatening way. The different hook sizes allow users to hang everything from hats and jackets to key rings and dog leashes. Herman Miller currently makes it with powder-coated metal and solid-wood or colored balls.
Hang It All
Eames Lounge and Ottoman (1956)
The Eameses modeled this lounge chair and coordinating footrest after classic English club chairs but put their modern spin on it by applying their knowledge of molding plywood. Herman Miller produces it in two sizes and a variety of veneers and upholstery leathers.
Eames Lounge and Ottoman
Aluminum Group (1958)
One can hardly enter a modern office space these days without encountering the Aluminum Group chairs. This handsome, timeless design is defined by a cast-aluminum frame that supports a ribbed leather seat and back (though it can also be topped with stretched mesh). Herman Miller offers it in lounge, dining or office versions with a four-star or caster base in polished aluminum or white or graphite satin power-coat finishes.
Aluminum Group