In 1950, Herman Miller introduced a molded plastic chair with a unique shape—a shell. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames, what makes the Eames Shell Chair so beloved is its universality and adaptability—equally at home in museum collections, living and dining rooms, lobbies, cafés, and nurseries around the world.
As with many of the designs that came out of the Eames Office, the Eames Shell Chair was inspired by previous iterations and emboldened by failure. After years of experimenting with molded plywood to create a single shell form, they shifted:First to stamped metal, the pair’s entry in the Museum of Modern Art’s 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design. The pair realized how difficult and costly their original design would be to produce and pivoted to fiberglass, ultimately making the world’s first mass-produced plastic chair. This innovation marked the beginning of many material explorations the Eames Office would undertake with Herman Miller
The Eameses’ one-piece shell concept has never been tied to any one material. The original 1950 designs were fiberglass, with bent wire following the next year. The environmental hazards of working with fiberglass prompted a switch to polypropylene. Later, evolving material technology made it possible to return to a safer fiberglass option for customers, as well as the addition of wood and recycled plastic options. Its most recent innovation is the addition of molded plastic shells containing 100 percent post-industrial recycled plastic in 2022. They're all part of the brand’s line today—along with options for upholstery and seat pads.
A choice of bases addresses most seating needs—dining, lounging, working, even rocking a baby to sleep. A joyful palette (colors like greige, lemon yellow, seafoam green, and red were available when it launched 75 years ago), multiple base types and finishes, arms or no arms, and upholstered or not make a tremendous million-plus combinations to choose from. And while it’s often imitated, it’s never been equaled.
The world had never seen anything like the Eames Shell Chair when Herman Miller introduced it in 1950. The chair’s almost infinite design permutations made it irresistible to museums, schools, businesses, and individuals. Notably by the 1960s—as the design increased in popularity—Eames Shell Chairs filled dining and lounge areas within California's legendary roadside attraction, The Nut Tree, which happened to be one of the earliest authorized retailers for Herman Miller; were configured as tandem sling seating at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport; and, with the addition of a stacking and interlocking base, became a school building staple for use in auditoriums, gymnasiums, and classrooms.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Herman Miller commissioned three artists, Benjamin Critton (Los Angeles), Luis Mendo (Tokyo), and Tete Garcia (Sydney), to create unique interpretations of the Eames Shell Chair to further articulate its mutability and relatability.
To learn more or to order, contact MillerKnoll authorised dealer RIFYO
About Herman Miller
Over the last century, Herman Miller has been guided by a commitment to problem-solving designs that inspire the best in people. Along the way, Herman Miller has forged critical relationships with the most visionary designers of the day, from mid-century greats like George Nelson, the Eames Office, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi to research-oriented visionaries like Robert Propst and Bill Stumpf—and with today's groundbreaking studios like Industrial Facility and Studio 7.5. From the birth of ergonomic furniture to manufacturing some of the twentieth century's most iconic pieces, Herman Miller has pioneered original, timeless design that makes an enduring impact, while building a lasting legacy of design, innovation, and social good. Herman Miller is a part of MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. For more information, visit hermanmiller.com/about
About Eames Office
Charles and Ray Eames founded their Los Angeles-based design practice, the Eames Office, in 1941 and produced significant contributions to architecture, furniture design, film, textiles, toys, exhibitions, and beyond. Through their work and its ongoing impact, the Eames Office reimagined the concept of a design studio in terms of philosophy, work ethic, and process.
Since Charles' passing in 1978 and Ray's passing in 1988, the Eames Office has transformed from a multidisciplinary design practice into a cultural and commercial organization. Led by the following generations of the Eames family, the Eames Office is dedicated to communicating, preserving, and extending one of the world's most influential design legacies. To carry out its mission, the Eames Office works closely with authorized manufacturers to bring original Eames designs to market, introducing their work to new generations through educational programs, curated exhibitions, and brand collaborations. Further, the Eames Office also extends Charles and Ray's legacy through its ongoing support of the Charles and Ray Eames Foundation. For more information, visit eamesoffice.com