- Designed
By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When
- 1945
- Made
From - Bent plywood
- Manufactured
By - Vitra
- More
Info - LCW stands for Lounge
Chair Wood. The Eames’ wanted to create a chair
that would fit the natural
contours of the body, could be mass produced and would be comfortable without
using any fabric or upholstery.
They also wanted it to be reasonably
affordable as Charles Eames said he wanted to “bring the most of the best to the greatest number of
people for the least”. What they came up with was
the LCW. The chair began as an
experiment in the Eames’ apartment, where they were moulding plywood in what
they called the ‘Kazam! Machine’. The machine pressed thin sheets of wood
veneer against a heated membrane that was inflated by a bicycle pump. Time magazine called
it "the best design of the 20th
century“. It is a design classic
and is still very sought-after today. It is also available with many wood and coloured finishes as well as
covered in calf skin.
- Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When -
1950
- Made From -
Polypropylene and stainless steel
- Manufactured By - Vitra
- More Info - This
simple, ergonomic chair was originally design for the Museum of Modern Art in
New York's Low-Cost Furniture Design Competition. It was the first industrially
manufactured plastic chair. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and the
plastic contain special additives which slow down the fading process caused by
ultraviolet rays. The seat is available in loads of colours and the base on
chrome or a powder-coated grey or black finish. There are also versions that
are fully upholstered or with just the seat upholstered.
- Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When - 1948
- Made From - Fiberglass, steel supports, oak
base
- Manufactured By - Vitra
- More Info - This
elegant, graceful chair was inspired by the sculpture ‘Floating Furniture’ by
Gaston Lachaise and it is named after the sculptor, rather than because it is a
chaise which is what most people would think. It was designed for a competition
at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is a very ergonomic designed and it
can be sat in in many ways. The original design was white, with a matt or
glossy finish, and a natural oak base but now versions with a pink, orange or
red seat and pink or black bases are available.
- Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When -
1946
- Made From -
Moulded plywood and chrome plated steel with rubber shock mounts
- Manufactured By - Herman Miller, then Vitra
- More Info - DCM
stands for Dining Chair Metal. The moulded plywood seat and back are shaped to
fit the human body, making it very comfortable. It is one of a series of
plywood chairs designed by the Eames’. It was exhibited at MoMA in 1946 and became
in instant success. It was named Best Design Of The 20th
Century by Time Magazine. Versions of the chair that have three legs were
produced but were too unstable so weren’t put into production. It is available
in many different woods, colours and pony hides.
- Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When - 1948
- Made From - Fibreglass
reinforced plastic, chrome steel base
- Manufactured By - Vitra
- More Info - DAR
stands for Dining Armchair Rod. It is sometimes called the Eiffel Chair because
the base resembles the Eiffel Tower. The design of this armchair was first
presented in 1948 at the Museum of Modern Art's 'Low cost furniture design'
competition. It was the first mass-produced chair made of fibreglass reinforced
plastic. The seat is available in a loads of solid colours. It is an iconic
chair that still looks stylish today and is still very popular.
- Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
- When - 1948
- Made From - Fibreglass,
chrome legs
- Manufactured By - Vitra
- More Info - The
initials stand for Dining Side Rod. It has ‘Eiffel Tower’ style legs which
meant it was given the nickname ‘the Eiffel Chair’. It is available in many
colours. It was reissued by Vitra in 1993 and the new
version is made from polypropylene because it is easier to recycle . It one MoMA’s ‘Low Cost Design’
competition.
