Mid-Century Modern Early Original Eames Herman Miller DCM Side Chair, 1950s
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Modern Early Original Eames Herman Miller DCM Side Chair, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Charles Eames (Designer),Herman Miller (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Keego Harbor, MI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2715314426251
Charles Eames
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.
Herman Miller
No other business of its kind did more than the Herman Miller Furniture Company to introduce modern design into American homes. Working with legendary designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Alexander Girard, the Zeeland, Michigan-based firm fostered some of the boldest expressions of what we now call mid-century modern style. In doing so, Herman Miller produced some of the most beautiful, iconic and, one can even say, noblest chairs, sofas, tables and other furniture ever.
Founded in 1923, Herman Miller was originally known for grand historicist bedroom suites: heavily ornamented wood furniture that appealed to a high-minded, wealthier clientele. The company — named for its chief financial backer — began to suffer in the early 1930s as the Great Depression hit, and D.J. De Pree, the company’s CEO, feared bankruptcy. In 1932, aid came in the form of Gilbert Rohde, a self-taught furniture designer who had traveled widely in Europe, absorbing details of the Art Deco movement and other modernist influences. After persuading De Pree that the growing middle class required smaller, lighter household furnishings, Rohde set a new course for Herman Miller, creating sleek chairs, tables and cabinetry that were the essence of the Streamline Moderne style.
Rohde died suddenly in 1944. The following year, De Pree turned to George Nelson, an architect who had written widely about modern furniture design. Under Nelson’s leadership, Herman Miller would embrace new technologies and materials and audacious biomorphic forms.
Some of the pieces the company produced are now emblems of 20th century American design, including the Eames lounge chair and ottoman and Nelson’s Marshmallow sofa and Coconut chair. Such instantly recognizable furnishings have become timeless — staples of a modernist décor; striking, offbeat notes in traditional environments.
Find a range of vintage Herman Miller office chairs, desks, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Eames for Herman Miller DCM Plywood and Chrome Chair Mid Century ModernBy Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Keego Harbor, MIEnhance 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...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Early Edition Aluminum Group Office ChairBy Herman MillerLocated in Keego Harbor, MIAn Eames for Herman Miller vintage Aluminum Group chair. A beautiful mid century modern chair with an classic Herman Miller design. This piece features a bright blue fabric seat and ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Eames for Herman Miller Zenith RAR Rocking Chair w/ Rope Edge Original Base 1950By Herman Miller, Ray EamesLocated in Keego Harbor, MIA rare “RAR” (Rocking Chair on Rod) designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Cream/yellow fiberglass shell seat produced by Zenith Plastics, 2nd edition, circa 1950s. Rope ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
MaterialsPlastic
- Set of 6 George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Modern Walnut ChairsBy Herman MillerLocated in Keego Harbor, MIElegant and sophisticated, this set of six George Nelson for Herman Miller chairs features two captain and four side chairs, all epitomizing classic Mid-Century Modern design. The wa...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
- Donghia Set of 4 Orange and Wood Side Chairs Mid Century Modern ContemporaryBy DonghiaLocated in Keego Harbor, MIThis set of four Donghia mid-century modern side chairs, a testament to timeless design and quality craftsmanship. Each chair features a vibrant orange upholstered seat and backrest,...Category
Mid-20th Century Side Chairs
MaterialsWood
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Modern Walnut Hi Boy Dresser ChestBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Keego Harbor, MIA George Nelson for Herman Miller hi-boy dresser. An incredible chest of drawers with simply but stunning mid century styling. This piece features a full walnut wood body constructio...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Early Eames Aniline Dyed DCM Chair for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Cincinnati, OHBlack aniline dyed wood seat and back DCM (dining chair metal) chromed metal framed side chair, domes of silence foot pads and early foil label....Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- DCM Chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Los Angeles, CADCM chair (Dining metal chair) by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. Designed in 1946, this molded plywood + chromed ste...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPlywood
- Eames Herman Miller Mid-Century Shell ChairBy Herman MillerLocated in New York, NYEames for Herman Miller Mid-Century Modern shell chair, makers mark on bottom. Measurements: 31.5" H x 25" W x 23" D. Seat 18". Dealer: S138XX.Category
Late 20th Century Side Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass
- 16 DCM Chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman MillerBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in Los Angeles, CADCM 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...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Rare DCM Side Chair with Magazine Rack by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in Dorchester, MAThis rare iteration of the Eames's DCM side chair, produced by Herman Miller between 1950 and 1954, features a chrome wire magazine rack below the seat. The bent plywood is finished ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs by Charles Eames for Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, Charles EamesLocated in Philadelphia, PAA 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
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsPlywood
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.