Spotlight on the Eames Shell Chair

Recognised the world over as a true design icon, the Eames Shell Chair collection has a place in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, with several variations on display for visitors to this day.

The Eames Shell Chair collection is an iconic series of chairs designed by husband and wife design duo Charles & Ray Eames. The collection is characterised by its moulded shell design, formed from a single, sculpted piece that provides both structural support and ergonomic comfort.

The history of the Eames shell chair

The history of the Eames Shell Chair collection begins in the late 1940s when Charles & Ray Eames were commissioned by the U.S. Navy to create lightweight, moulded plywood leg splints during World War II. This project led to their experimentation with moulded plywood and fibreglass, which eventually evolved into their iconic chair designs.

In 1948, Charles & Ray Eames developed the Moulded Plywood Chair, which utilised their innovative technique of moulding plywood into complex shapes. This chair was a significant advancement in furniture design due to its combination of form and function. However, it was the subsequent development of the Moulded Fibreglass Chair that truly revolutionised the industry.

In 1948 and as part of the "International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design) design duo Charles & Ray Eames entered their first iteration of the Eames Chair. The steel shell was moulded to fit the contours of the human body and included the concept for a variety of base options. The New York Museum of Modern Art awarded the Eames' second prize but their shell proved too complex and expensive to achieve successful mass production. Not ready to give up, Charles & Ray Eames went about finding suitable alternative materials.

The couple's search eventually led them to glass-fibre reinforced polyester resin, which until then had been primarily restricted to military applications such as aircraft radomes and cockpit covers. The couple recognised and fully utilised the advantages of fibreglass: it's tensile strength, rigidity and suitability for industrial manufacturing methods. With this material they successfully developed the moulded seat shells for mass production: the Eames Fiberglass Chair was born. Its organically shaped, one-piece shell proved to be a much-admired innovation at a time when chairs typically consisted of a seat and backrest. Fibreglass offered the added advantage of pleasant tactile qualities and a perfectly moulded form for optimal comfort.

Through the years, Eames Shell Chair collection expanded to include lounge chairs, rocking chairs and dining chairs, in a myriad of colours and upholstery options. Swiss-German manufacturing giants Vitra secured the European rights to produce the Eames Collection in 1957 and have since played a huge part in promoting and preserving the Eames legacy.

A move away from Fibreglass

Fibreglass production involves the use of potentially harmful chemicals and processes, including the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the generation of hazardous waste. Additionally, fibreglass materials can pose health risks, particularly during manufacturing and if the material is damaged, as fibreglass particles can become airborne and potentially cause respiratory issues.

Vitra’s commitment to a more sustainable future led to them working with the Eames Group to transition from using fibreglass to more environmentally friendly and safer materials such as recyclable polypropylene plastic. This transition allowed them to address both the environmental and health-related issues associated with fibreglass while still maintaining the iconic design and functionality of the Eames Shell Chairs.

In 2024 Vitra upgraded the material once again and all new Eames Plastic Chairs are produced using post-consumer recycled plastics (marked as “RE”). More on this later.

Revisiting fibreglass

Since the transition to plastic, new production methods have been devised that allow it possible to recreate the sear shell in fibreglass without the environmental issues associated with the earlier version.

The Plastic Chair collection is still the most popular version of the chair, but for people who enjoy the aesthetic of the original fibreglass material (clearly visible fibres on the surface give the chair a lively appearance and enhance its “natural” finish), the Fibreglass collection is also available.

Eames Plastic Shell Chair RE

Vitra’s continued commitment to sustainability has led to the development of a new recycled material, which is now used across the entire Eames Plastic Chair collection.

The recycled material for the shells of the Eames Plastic Chairs RE comes from household waste, most of which is post-consumer packaging obtained through the “Yellow Bag” (Gelber Sack) waste collection programme in Germany.

Utilising this recycled material instead of primary plastics previously used generates fewer climate-damaging emissions and consumes significantly less energy. Due to the composition of the recycled material, the various colour versions of the seat shells are interspersed with tiny specks of pigment.

At the end of the product’s life (which is likely to be long after we’re gone!), the shells can be 100% recycled, fulfilling the strict ecological requirements that Vitra places on new materials and solutions in the development and manufacture of its products.

How to authenticate your Vitra Eames Shell chair

The status of an “original” is determined by the relationship between the designer (or their rightful heirs) and the manufacturer of the products. This is not only a legal component to the relationship but also an immaterial one based on shared ideals and collaboration.

For any product to be designated an “original”, the designer must have authorised the manufacturer to produce it. In Europe, the sole manufacturer with permission to produce the Eames Shell Chair collection is Vitra.

Any supplier who has not earned this right, will not have had the close cooperation of the Eames Office during every step of product and as such, there will always be uncertainty about the degree to which the copy deviates from the original idea.

In order to tell the difference between a real and a replica Eames chair, you can keep an eye out for a few things:

1. The Vitra label

All Eames plastic chairs produced by Vitra feature a printed stamp on the underside of the shell. This stamp include the product name, the words “vitra eames” and the Eames office logo.

2. Dimensions

To get around copyright laws, certain manufacturers of “replicas” change just enough about a design to allow it to pass the stringent rules that have been put in place. As a result, what you’ll often see is that the product dimensions are different than the originals. The result is a chair that can often look out of proportion or clunky.

3. The Price Tag

Authentic Vitra Eames Shell Chairs are made from premium quality materials and the price reflects this. They’re built to be used, enjoyed and loves for generations.

4. Shell Colours & Base Options

Many replicas on the market are available in colours that do not make up the official collection of colourways offered by Vitra. If your chair colour differs from those advertised on the Vitra (or Utility) website it is likely a fake. On occasion, special editions are released in limited quantities, so it is possible for the colour not to be in the official library - in this case we’d advise you to check for the aforementioned stamp of approval, or contact the retailer you purchased it from.

5. Utility guarantee

As an official stockist, all Vitra products sold by Utility are licensed originals. You will never find a replica or a copy at Utility, so if purchased through us, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’ve invested in a true original.