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Plastic Armchairs

Year: 1948

Open up a random interior design magazine and chances are you will find a picture of the Plastic Armchairs by Eames. This is not that strange, because it is a true design classic. Thanks to the huge array of available colours and versions, it can be made to fit almost anyone’s taste. The first in the chair series made of synthetic material have one thing in common: their organically shaped plastic seat shells. As soon as the shell has an under-carriage, the chair is given its name:

DAR = Dining Height Armchair R-Wire Base

DAW = Dining Height Armchair Wooden Base

RAR = Rocking Armchair Rod Base

PACC = Pivot Armchair Cast Base on Castors

DAX = Dining Height Armchair X-Base

DAL = Dining Height Armchair La Fonda Base

There is also a traverse version, with a maximum of 5 seats for use in waiting areas and airports.

The Eames couple presented the Plastic Armchair during competition Low Coast Furniture Design, organised by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1948 for the first time. The chairs are still being produced in their original form, except nowadays in a environment friendly polypropylene. The earlier models were made from glass fibre enriched synthetic material. With the exception of the RAR, the chairs are also available with textile upholstery for the seat in five different colours.