With Eames Fiberglass RAR, Vitra reissues Charles and Ray Eames' iconic armchair in several of the original colours. The Eames Armchair, published by Vitra, has been constantly improved and adapted throughout its long production history. Launched on the market in 1950, the Eames Fiberglass was the first plastic chair to be mass-produced. It also marked the introduction of the multifunctional chair, whose shell can be combined with a variety of bases - a revolutionary idea at the time that has since spread far and wide. The Eames Fiberglass RAR armchair is the result of a new Vitra manufacturing process that allows the seat shell to be produced in its original colours and in its first material produced. The shells of the Eames Fiberglass RAR Vitra chair stand out for the characteristic irregular surface of the fibreglass, which appears almost like a natural material thanks to its clearly visible fibres. Vitra Fiberglass seats form a vast family that offers countless variations suitable for almost any use.
Color
Parchemin Eames
Colour
white
Material
composite
Base
chromé brillant/ érable nuance de jaune
Dimensions
l 63 x p 81 x h 76 cm, assise h 37 cm
Finish
polyester renforcé de fibre de verre, fil d'acier, érable
When he died at the age of 71 in 1978 in St Louis, his home town, Charles Eames embodied one of the major figures of 20th century design, which he was able to steer towards mass production. Trained as an architect, in 1940 he won 1st prize with Eero Saarinen in the Moma organic design competition in New York, which led to him teaching industrial design at Cranbrook Academy, where he met his wife Ray, who studied painting there. Charles and Ray Eames married in 1941 and moved to Los Angeles, where they began experimenting together with three-dimensional plywood moulding techniques. The aim was to create comfortable and affordable chairs. Innovative plywood splints and stretchers for the US Army led them to develop this technology, the furniture for which was produced by Herman Miller (1946), then Vitra (1957). In 1948, Charles and Ray Eames entered MoMA's "Low-Cost Furniture" competition, and in 1949 they created the Eames House as their private residence. Their Eames Lounge Chair has sold over 6 million units since its creation in 1956, while the Aluminium Chair (having initiated the Aluminium group in 1958) and the swivel armchair with its Soft Pad footrest (1969) continue to appeal to design enthusiasts and even enjoy a 30-year guarantee! In addition to their work in furniture design and architecture, Charles and Ray Eames also regularly dabbled in graphic design, photography, film-making, and exhibitions. For Vitra, the encounter with Charles and Ray Eames was of fundamental importance. The company's history as a furniture manufacturer began with the production of their designs in 1957. But it's not just their products that the design duo are making their mark on Vitra. In fact, their conception of design still defines the values and direction of the company to this day. To this day, the design philosophy of Charles and Ray Eames continues to notably determine the values, direction, and goals of Vitra. This decisive influence can be seen most clearly in the question that always arises at Vitra when it comes to making important design decisions: what would Charles and Ray say? During their life together, the couple gave their answers on trips to Europe and on return visits to California. In the Eames House, we can find many items brought back from trips, such as the Eames House Bird.
2.
VITRA
Vitra was founded in 1950 by Willi Fehlbaum and Erika Fehlbaum. The design furniture company Vitra is located near Basel, in Switzerland. Starting in 1981, the brand Vitra expanded and opened many subsidiaries around the world. The founders spotted the Eames chairs, including the Eames armchairs, the Vitra tables and the office chairs created by Charles and Ray Eames, Antonio Citterio or also the Bouroullec brothers.