Image source: Herman Miller — Eames Shell Chairs
© Herman Miller and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Eames Shell Chairs
The Eames single-shell chair family, from the 1950 fiberglass chair to recycled-plastic shells.
1950
Official product information
INTEBEE AI PUBLIC LIBRARY is an independent furniture design research and discovery platform. Product specifications, finishes, availability and other details may change. For current and definitive information, please refer to the manufacturer's official website.
Go to the official product pageSpecifying Eames Shell Chairs for your design project?
INTEBEE is the FF&E specification platform for interior designers: spec sheets, finishes, floor plans and client-ready PDFs in one place.
Description
Overview
The Eames Shell Chairs are Herman Miller's family of single-shell chairs by Charles and Ray Eames, introduced in 1950 and offered in fiberglass, plastic and wood shells on many bases.
Construction
One-piece biomorphic shells in two shapes, with a choice of bases, upholstery and seat pads. The newest plastic shells contain 100 percent post-industrial recycled plastic, and fiberglass and wood shells are offered as well.
Specifications
The family page gives no dimensions; each member product has its own.
Story
From plywood to fiberglass
The design-story section dates the idea of a lightweight one-piece chair shell to 1939, when Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen experimented with plywood shells at Cranbrook Academy.
Image source: Herman Miller — Eames Shell Chairs · © Herman Miller and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy
A steel shell that came second
In 1948 Charles entered a stamped steel shell chair in the Museum of Modern Art's low-cost furniture competition and took second place; the Eameses then turned to a fiberglass prototype made by a boat builder.
More by Charles and Ray Eames
Occasional Table LTR
Eames low occasional table of 1950 with a steel-wire rod base and wood, HPL, linoleum or marble top.
Soft Pad Chair EA 223
Eames stool for the EA 222 lounge chair, with a sewn-on cushion and an aluminium base, 1969.
Plywood Group DCW
Eames' Dining Chair Wood: made entirely of moulded plywood, 1945/1946.
Eames Chaise
The 1968 Eames Chaise, an 18-inch-wide leather chaise on a die-cast aluminum frame.
Collection
Eames Collection
The Eames Collection at Herman Miller: molded plywood chairs (1946), molded plastic chairs, Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, storage units and Hang-It-All.
