Although their ubiquitous leather lounge might be more recognizable, there’s arguably no chair that better embodies the design ethos of Charles and Ray Eames (1907–78; 1912–88) than the DCW dining chair. It was introduced at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in a 1946 exhibition titled “New Furniture Designed by Charles Eames.” (Ray was notably absent from the exhibition title, despite being a full collaborator on the work.)
In its design, construction and manufacturing, the DCW is pure Eames. It was born of functionality and comfort, crafted in a shape that the ever-inquisitive Eameses decided would provide optimal support for a large number of people. “We found that comfort depended more on the perfect molding to the body shape than it did on the way the bone structure was supported,” Charles noted in a 1954 film on the piece. “If the structure was supported properly, the hard and rigid material, like molded plywood, can provide a remarkably high degree of comfort.”
This proper support is the result of the chair’s five distinct parts: a pair of two-legged bases, a bentwood seat, a bentwood back and a long piece of bentwood that connects each of these. Such construction allows for a certain flexibility in movement between the seat and the back without requiring any type of complicated adjustment mechanism.
The Eameses developed the DCW while tinkering with the “Kazam! Machine,” a mechanism they invented to press and mold wood veneer. In their Los Angeles apartment, the couple would place a sheet of wood veneer into the machine, then top it with a layer of glue. After repeating these steps 5 to 11 times and ensuring the layers were set in place, the Kazam! Machine was clamped shut and a bicycle pump inflated a balloon to press the layers into their molded shape. Charles and Ray then cut the mold and sanded each finished shape by hand.
The Kazam! Machine was a direct result of Charles and Ray’s determination to conceive an efficient, inexpensive means of production. Plywood, too, was a significant choice. Not unlike the molded plastic with which the Eameses would experiment, plywood was relatively cheap and easily available, rendering it optimal for the kind of democratic design the couple championed.
The Eames DCW chair has appeared (and continues to appear) in interiors by top designers all over the world. Today, it remains a top seller for Herman Miller — with equal credit given to Charles and Ray.
Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair Wood Base (DCW) in Red Stained Birch excellent
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Hudson, NY
Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair Wood Base (DCW) in Red stained Ash The Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair (1946) began as an experiment in Charles and Ray Eameses’ apartment and be...
Rubber, Wood, Birch
$2,250 / set
Early Eames Bent Walnut DCW for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A pair of very well grained early bent walnut plywood side chairs designed by the iconic team of Ray and Charles Eames . These sculptural chairs are part o...
Walnut
Set of 6 Charles & Ray Eames DCW Dining Chairs for Herman Miller in Ash
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous set of six DCW chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller c1985. Created from Ash and show a striking grain pattern in the backs and seats particularly. In excellent...
Ash
Walnut Dining Chair Wood DCW by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller 1950s
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brussels, Brussels
An early and highly desirable DCW (Dining Chair Wood) by Charles & Ray Eames, manufactured by Herman Miller in the United States between 1950 and 1953. Recognized as one of the defi...
Walnut, Plywood
Charles and Ray Eames, "DCW" Chair, Plywood, USA, 1950s
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in High Point, NC
A moulded plywood DCW dining chair or side chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller, USA, 1960s. 16.6” seat height
Plywood
$2,100
Red Eames DCW
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Wonderful red aniline dyed DCW by Charles and Ray Eames. Early 5-2-4 screw pattern.
Wood
4 Vintage Charles & Ray Eames Ebonized Plywood DCW Chairs for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in St. Louis, MO
Set of four 1950s Charles & Ray Eames plywood DCW dining chairs in ash with ebony finish for Herman Miller. The set is a marriage of two sets, determined by the back seat shock mount...
Plywood
4 Herman Miller Eames DCW Dining Chairs Wood in Light Ash
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful set of 4 early 2000’s DCW for Dining Chairs Wood by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. The label dates them to the period between 2003-2007 approximately when that ...
Wood
Set of 4 Walnut DCW Dining Chairs, Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller 1950s
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brussels, Brussels
A matching set of four DCW (Dining Chair Wood) chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames and manufactured by Herman Miller, USA. Introduced as part of the Eames plywood furniture ser...
Plywood, Walnut
$1,900Sale Price|24% Off
Charles and Ray Eames DCW for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Belmont, MA
DCW by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller in original condition. Legs attached with 5/2/4 screw configuration. Original patina.
Plywood
Early Charles & Ray Eames Mid Century DCW Chairs in Walnut by Herman Miller 1950
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and early mid century "DCW" wooden chair in molded walnut plywood by Charles & Ray Eames produced by Herman Miller USA, 1950s. In good original condition with patina from age an...
Walnut
Eames for Herman Miller DCM Plywood and Chrome Chair Mid Century Modern
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
Enhance your home or office with the iconic Mid Century Modern charm of this Eames for Herman Miller DCM Chair. Showcasing the distinctive molded plywood construction, it combines n...
Chrome
Pair Charles & Ray Eames for Evans DCW Dining Chairs in Walnut & Cowhide c. 1946
By Herman Miller, Evans Products Company, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in the late 1940s by Charles & Ray Eames, this chair has cemented itself in Mid-Century Design like very few other pieces. Early models like this have become very diffic...
Cowhide, Rubber, Walnut
Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic pair Charles & Ray Eames DCW dining side chairs in Ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-4 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over...
Rubber, Ash, Plywood
Birch Ply DCW Chairs By Eames For Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This pair of molded birch plywood DCW chairs (Dining Chair Wood) were designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1945. The chairs bear the oval black label for Herman Miller dating them to...
Plywood, Bentwood, Birch, Wood
Original Eames Fiberglass Shell Chairs by Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage 1960s molded fiberglass side shell chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Gleaming shells are in original condition, each with a distinct thready texture...
Fiberglass
Herman Miller Eames Multicolored Dining Chair Set by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multicolored Eames fiberglass dining chair set by Herman Miller. Original vintage production, not new ersatz ones. Featuring a unique myriad of colors. On original steel tube H bases...
Metal
2000s Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Esperance, NY
Modern Living — In the 1950s, the Eames molded shell changed everything about what a chair could be–sculptural, practical, mass-produced. Now in recyclable polypropylene, this staple of modern living fits every body and any space. 2000s Eames Molded plastic side chair...
Metal
Charles Eames DCM Dining Chair
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Vienna, AT
Charles Eames DCM dining chair with seat and back of molded walnut veneer, chromed steel. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946. Produced by Herma...
Steel
$290 / item
H 31.13 in W 18.5 in D 21.75 in
Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair Seat Pad, Herman Miller Chairs, Large Quantity
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Miami, FL
Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair with Seat Pad, made by Herman Miller 2020. Price is for one chair. 28 Chairs in total available. Large quantity will change shipping cost, please requ...
Chrome
$6,999 / set
H 33.75 in W 23 in D 23 in
Midcentury Eames Aluminum Group Managment Chairs for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are a set of 6 Eames side chairs upholstered in gorgeous fabric. Elegance and comfort separates this iconic chair from the rest. The upholstery is in wonderful...
Aluminum
Eames Molded Fiberglass Side Chair - White
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Charles and Ray Eames realized their dream to create a single-shell form over 80 years ago by making their molded chairs of fiberglass. When the environmental risks of that material became known, the Eames Molded...
Fiberglass
$4,585 / set
H 31.5 in W 18.51 in D 20.48 in
Charles & Ray Eames Set of 4 "La Fonda" Chairs for Herman Miller, 1960
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in The Hague, NL
Set of 4 classic chairs the "La Fonda" designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1961 for the La Fonda del Sol restaurant in New York and produced by Herman Miller. All the chairs are ori...
Metal
8 DCM Chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DCM chair (Dining metal chair) by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Designed in 1946, this molded plywood + chromed steel chair is a classic design. Sometimes referred to as the "potato chip chair...
Metal
$880Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.75 in W 18 in D 18.5 in
Set of 4 Signed Eames Herman Miller Shell Chairs
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
Set of 4 Eames Herman Miller Stacking Chairs CIRCA 2000 Black molded material with fabric seat pad White powder coated base Signed Herm...
Plastic
$2,031 / set
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 18.12 in
1950, Ray & Charles Eames for Herman Miller Set DSS Fiberglass Stacking Chairs
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
Charles and Ray Eames set of 4 early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chairs Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic set of 4 Charles & Ray Eames DCW dining side chairs in Ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-4 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took ...
Rubber, Ash, Plywood
Pair of Charles and Ray Eames Herman Miller Calico Ash DCW chairs
By Charles and Ray Eames, Ray Eames, Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of chairs designed by the Eames office headed by Charles and Ray Eames manufactured by Herman Miller . Designated as DCW ( dining chair wood ) chairs . Both chairs are Ash wood...
Plywood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chair for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Charles & Ray Eames DCW dining side chairs in Ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-3 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over prod...
Ash, Plywood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Ash Plywood Dining Chair for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic Charles & Ray Eames DCW dining side chairs in Ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-4 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over prod...
Ash, Plywood
Pair Eames Red DCW’s for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Eames Red Dyed DCW's. Chairs are about 10 years old Herman Miller editions. Overall pretty clean and sturdy!
Wood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
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 Charles & Ray Eames DCW dining side chairs in Ash plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-5 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over ...
Rubber, Plywood, Ash
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
Charles and Ray Eames Early restored DCW Walnut Plywood Chairs, Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic pair DCW dining side chair in Walnut plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (5-2-5 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over production from E...
Rubber, Walnut, Plywood
Charles and Ray Eames Walnut DCW for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Charles and Ray Eames DCW in Walnut. Nice Clean example with no veneer chips or cracks. Shows nice signs of use and Patina. Rubber Shock mount professionally replaced! Chair is r...
Rubber, Walnut
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 22.45 in
Charles and Ray Eames Early DCW Walnut Plywood Dining Chairs for Herman Miller
By Charles Eames, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic pair DCW dining side chair in Walnut plywood. Early Herman Miller production from the fifties (4-2-5 screw configuration), just after Herman Miller took over production from E...
Rubber, Walnut, Plywood
Set of Four Early Eames Dining Chairs
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Cambridge, US
USA, ca. 1950s. A rare and early group of four DCWs (Dining Height / Side Chair / Wood Bases) by Charles & Ray Eames. Each features signature molded plywood construction finished wit...
Ash, Plywood
Sold
H 28.75 in W 19 in D 21.75 in
Eames DCW Dining Chairs in Espresso Ebony by Herman Miller, Set of 6
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Stamford, CT
The great portfolio of Charles & Ray Eames is widely celebrated and serves as a model of inspiration for designers to this day. One of their most recognizable motifs was their work w...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.3 in D 20.48 in
Pair DCW Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Evans / Herman Miller in Ash, 1940s
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brussels, Brussels
The DCW (Dining Chair Wood) chair has been created by Charles and Ray Eames around 1945. These are first generation chairs produced by Evans Products Company and distributed by Herm...
Plywood, Ash
