Collection Story
Origin
Vitra ties the Eames Fiberglass Chairs to the Museum of Modern Art's 1948 competition for low-cost furniture, where Charles and Ray Eames entered a body-moulded shell and a concept for interchangeable bases. It won second prize, but the metal shell could not be made economically in series. Glass-fibre reinforced polyester, used until then mainly for military parts, gave them a material that could be moulded, was rigid and suited industrial production, and the chair reached the market in 1950.
Design Language
A single organically shaped shell was unusual at a time when chairs were built from a separate seat and backrest. The Eameses designed bases to go with it, including the welded wire Eiffel Tower base and a wooden base reinforced with metal struts. Because fibreglass had existed only without colour, they mixed their own hues, starting with greige, elephant hide grey and parchment.
Key Pieces
- Eames Fiberglass Armchair DAR
- Eames Fiberglass Side Chair DSW
- Eames Fiberglass Stool High and Stool Medium
- Further armchairs and side chairs on rod, wood, La Fonda and X bases