Designers Charles and Ray Eames established their long and legendary relationship with Herman Miller in 1946 with their boldly original molded plywood chairs. The aesthetic integrity, enduring charm, and comfort of the chairs earned them recognition from Time magazine as The Best Design of the 20th Century. Time called the design “something elegant, light and comfortable. Much copied but never bettered.” (A locomotive came in second.)
The chairs are offered with richly grained birch veneer in bright colors that recall the times when the chairs were introduced. The environmentally friendly aniline stains we use allow the wood’s natural characteristics to show through. The chairs are also available in natural cherry, walnut, and light ash.
In their search for a better way, Charles and Ray Eames developed an innovative technique for molding plywood. The process allowed them to bend wood in new directions and give hard materials a soft look. The contours the molding process creates out of plywood fit the body’s shape. The plywood has five plies, with hardwood inner plies. Natural rubber shock mounts absorb movement.
The Eames Molded Plywood chair is available in multiple upholstered fabric options and two new base finish options—a sophisticated black matte and an environmentally friendlier trivalent chrome. These choices join a range of established options that together reflect the original character of this timeless classic.
