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Charles Eames Side Chairs

American, 1907-1978

The legacy of Charles Eames looms large in design. In partnership with his wife, Ray, Charles was at the forefront of pioneering innovation in the use of molded plywood for furniture making. The Eameses’ cheerful and inviting work has endured among the most important advancements in the history of 20th-century design.

Together, visionary mid-century modern duo Charles and Ray Eames introduced a wide range of renowned furniture to the postwar market, including iconic designs such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, the wildly colorful birch plywood-and-plastic-laminate Eames storage unit, the Eames compact sofa and more. The designers were trailblazers in molded plywood furniture and brought lively organic form to metal and plastic.

Charles Eames studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis. He traveled to Mexico and Europe, and experienced firsthand the work of designer-architects Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In 1930, upon returning to Missouri, Eames opened an architecture practice with Charles M. Gray but later moved to Michigan in 1938. He received a fellowship at Cranbrook Academy of Art, which would become a breeding ground for the stars of mid-century design. Eames continued his architecture studies at Cranbrook and also taught in the design department.

In 1940, Eames met his future wife, artist and designer Beatrice Alexandra "Ray" Kaiser, who was studying at Cranbrook under Abstract Expressionist painter Hans Hofmann. Charles teamed up with another Cranbrook instructor, Finnish-American designer Eero Saarinen, to explore the possibilities of plywood for use in furniture design.

With support from Ray, Charles and Eero created chairs and case pieces and submitted them to the “Organic Design in Home Furnishings” competition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City — among them was the groundbreaking organic Side chair made of molded plywood with maple legs. It was upholstered by Heywood-Wakefield. This exhibition is considered critical by many to the popularization of what is known as mid-century modernism. Eames and Saarinen won first place for their submissions to the competition.

Charles and Ray were married in 1941 and soon after moved to Los Angeles, California, and lived in an apartment building designed by architect Richard Neutra. Charles worked on set design at MGM, and at night, in a humble workshop they established in the guest bedroom, he and Ray experimented with molded plywood on a homemade device they called the “Kazaam!” machine. In 1942, the couple won a U.S. Navy contract to create molded plywood leg splints that would be used to support wartime medical efforts. Soon, the Evans Product Company was making the splints and the Eameses opened the famed Eames Office and studio.

The Eameses’ innovative use of wire framing, molded plywood and applied fabrics caught the attention of many notable figures in interior design and architecture, including George Nelson, director of design at Herman Miller, a now-legendary modern furniture manufacturer. The company enlisted the Eameses’ talents and was eventually home to the couple’s classic pieces such as the Eames DCW chair and the DCM chair.

Find an extensive array of vintage Charles Eames seating, tables and case pieces on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Charles Eames
One Charles Eames Herman Miller Aluminum Group Chair
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Pasadena, TX
One Charles Eames Herman Miller aluminum group chair 1970s Charles and Ray Eames aluminum group side chair, EA330 office confe...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Charles Eames Wire Chairs with Bikini Cover on Eiffel Base's
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic pair Eames wire chairs on a black Eiffel base with the bikini covers for Herman Miller, Naugahyde bikini tops missing elastic connector...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs by Charles Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A nice early set of four DCW chairs designed by Charles Eames and produced by Herman Miller in the 1950's. These feature dark stained plywood construction. Nice warm patina and likel...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Plywood

Pair Eames DCM in Worn Original Ebonized Finish
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of early production Dining Chair Metal DCM designed by the Charles and Ray Eames team . Black wrought iron frames support black aniline dyed wood seats and backs. Finish shows w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Early Eames Rope Edge Armchair
By Charles Eames
Located in Toronto, ON
Exceedingly rare early production of the Herman Miller rope edge armchair as designed by Charles Eames. Fiberglass shell produced by Zenith Plastics for Herm...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

1st Generation Eames Dkr-2 Wire Eiffel Tower Chair
By Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Garnerville, NY
First generation Eames DKR-2 Eiffel Tower base side chair with the distinct splayed feet and the black base (which was only released in the early version). ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Pair of Fine Early DKX Charles Eames Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
A good early pair. More detail pics available. Seats need to be attached better. Possibly worked on by an upholsterer. All original pieces. Missing the foot glides. They can be...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Eames LAR Cats Cradle Base Fiberglass Armshell Lounge Chair
By Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Ferndale, MI
From the fiberglass chair series developed by Charles and Ray Eames immediately after WW2. Widely distributed by Herman Miller. This low arm rod (LAR) chair has zinc finished base wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Steel, Zinc

Six Classic Fiberglass Swivel Side Shell Chairs Charles Eames, Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Six Classic Mid-Century Modern fiberglass swivel side shell chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames, manufactured by Herman Miller. Remarkable condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

DCW Dining Chair by Charles Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An early, Mid-Century Modern oak 'DCW' dining chair designed by Charles Eames with a double shock-mount to the backrest. Manufactured by Herman Miller in the USA, circa 1950s.
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Oak

Charles Eames Alexander Girard Shell Chairs in Two-Tone Checkerboard
By Charles Eames, Alexander Girard
Located in Chicago, IL
A good pair of orange and yellow Charles Eames and Alexander Girard chairs for Herman Miller. Custom order label on underside. Dated May 6, 1974. More pics to come. Upholstery is in...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Early LCM Red Aniline Dyed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Early LCM red aniline dyed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic set of 4 DCW dining side chairs in ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (4-2-5 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over production from...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Plywood, Ash

Charles & Ray Eames DSX Side Chair Multicolor Set for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic side chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Molded fiberglass shells in the colours: Navy Blue, Ochre Light, Seal Brown and Oli...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Charles Eames & Eero Saarinen “Organic Chair” Model No. A3501, 1950, USA
By Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Very rare and collectible Eames & Saarinen "Organic Chair", winner of Organic Design competition at MoMa. First manufacture from the early 1950s, laminated and moulded wooden seat shell, foam upholstery which was covered with textile fabric designed by Marli Ehrman. A special patented joint holds the wood legs firmly to the shell. Originals of the organic from the 1950s are collector's items and exhibited in museums. They are also traded on art auctions, where one was sold in 1999 for $ 120.000 in bed condition. (take a look at the picture) Designed for the “Organic Design” competition by Museum of Modern Art in New York on 1 October 1940. The competition was initiated by Elliot Noyes, the first curator of this newly installed department. The goal was to motivate architects and companies to develop and market modern furniture for a modern lifestyle. Their participation in the MoMa competition was the first collaboration between Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames, and they won first prize. Besides the chair, their submission comprised a high-back chair, an armchair, a sofa, and office furniture, which they presented in the form of several drawings. No true-to-scale prototypes were produced for the competition. Production of the “Organic Chair” only started in 1950 and was terminated after a short while. The original design had envisaged aluminium legs. This idea was discarded because the material was scarce during the war, and wood was used instead. New technologies were also involved in the production of the seat shell, which was composed of strips of veneer and was to ensure utmost stability and comfort while using as little material as possible and being extremely lightweight. Later on, Eames based...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Plywood

Classic Set of 4 Charles Eames Fiberglass Scoop /Side Chairs 1950s Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic set of 4 Charles Eames fiberglass scoop /side chairs 1950s Herman Miller. Nice early group dated 1958-1959, 2 lemon yellow, 1 crimson orange, 1 elephant hide grey, all 4 in n...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

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2007 Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Management Desk Chairs in Leather
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Eames Aluminium Group Chairs for Herman Miller 3 Available
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Aluminum Group Desk Chairs by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, Signed
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Early Eames Aniline Dyed DCM Chair for Herman Miller
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Black aniline dyed wood seat and back DCM (dining chair metal) chromed metal framed side chair, domes of silence foot pads and early foil label....
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Herman Miller Aluminum Group Management Chair by Charles Eames, c. 1965
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Belmont, MA
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Fine Charles Eames for Evans Sold by Herman Miller Ash Grain DCM Dining Chair
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Set of 4 Vintage Eames Chairs by Herman Miller
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

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Previously Available Items
Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic set of 4 DCW dining side chairs in ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (4-2-5 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over production from...
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1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

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Set of Eight Charles Eames for Herman Miller Side Dining Pink Eiffel Chairs MCM
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Charles Eames Side Chairs

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Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Oak Dining Chair for Herman Miller, 1953
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Iconic DCW dining side chair in Oak plywood. The oak veneer is in good condition with nice patina and minor user marks. Early Herman Miller production from September 1953 (4-2-5 scre...
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1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charles Eames Side Chairs

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Pair of Molded Plywood Side Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller
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Set of Five 'DCM' Dining Chairs by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, Signed
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Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of five DCM (Dining Chair Metal) chairs by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller are in red stained Birch wood and signed under each chair with Herman Miller labels as can be seen in the photos. These popular chairs are fabricated from molded plywood seats, not to be confused with bentwood chairs, and backs attached to a metal base, creating a minimal silhouette. Originally introduced to the world in 1946 at an exclusive MoMa exhibit, the "Eames Molded Plywood Chair...
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Eames for Herman Miller Walnut LCW
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original walnut LCW chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Molded plywood with a low-slung profile. Legs and seat edges are very clean ...
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Eames for Herman Miller Walnut LCW
Eames for Herman Miller Walnut LCW
H 25.5 in W 22 in D 23 in
1950s Early Production 'DCM' Chairs by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, Signed
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Charles and Ray Eames DCW Chair by Herman Miller
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H 28.75 in W 19.69 in D 22.05 in
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Mid-Century Modern Eames Herman Miller Eiffel Tower DKR Set of 6 Side Chairs
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Charles Eames side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Charles Eames side chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Charles Eames side chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original side chairs by Charles Eames were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider side chairs by Dunbar, Harvey Probber, and Paul McCobb. Prices for Charles Eames side chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $680 and can go as high as $133,498, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,850.
Questions About Charles Eames Side Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charles and Ray Eames are famous for their chair designs. The couple released their first iconic Eames Lounge and Ottoman in 1956 and went on to create more chairs that changed the idea of comfortable seating. In addition to being great furniture designers, Ray and Charles were also graphic and textile designers, architects and film-makers. Shop a collection of Eames chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    Charles and Ray Eames were related by marriage. Charles studied architecture and industrial design. Ray (née Bernice Alexandra Kaiser) was an artist who studied under painter Hans Hofmann. They met in 1940 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in suburban Detroit and married the next year. Shop a selection of Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charles and Ray Eames have been recognized as the 20th century’s most influential designers and are best known for their highly recognizable chairs. The Eames lounge chair and ottoman are an iconic duo in modern-styled furniture, and s​ome of the first Eames items to emerge from Herman Miller are now classics: the LCW, or Lounge Chair Wood, and the DCM, or Dining Chair Metal, supported by tubular steel. Find vintage Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    For Charles and Ray Eames’ chairs designed for Herman Miller, molded plywood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, bent and welded wire mesh, and cast aluminum were used in production. You can shop a collection of Eames furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Rosewood was the favorite wood of famed American designers Charles and Ray Eames. Rosewood made its way into some of the duo’s most celebrated designs, including the iconic Eames lounge chair. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of genuine Eames furniture from some of the world’s top sellers.

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