Vitra Eames Fiberglass Chairs

Eames Fibreglass Chairs, now recreated in their original colours from Vitra by a new production method. This collection includes the DSR, DSW and DSX side chairs for dining and each shell clearly shows the fibres in the fiberglass, giving the surface a lively and authentic appearance. For true Eames connoisseurs where only the original will make the grade, here is your chance to own a bit of design history.

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History of the Eames Fiberglass Chair

The year was 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.

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