Techniques in the moulding of plywood for use in household furniture were further expanded by designer Charles Eames and architect Eero Saarinen in 1940. They won the 1st prize for their entry in a future furniture competition run by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Their design improved on past attempts and also enabled smooth curves to be made in the construction of furniture.
The winning chair was not yet practical as it cost an extensive sum of money to produce and was not very easy to build. Eames and Saarinen's design was first called the Organic chair and it consisted of a single shell for the seat and back that was placed on the structure for the legs.
A single-shell chair remained a problem for Eames and therefore he decided to develop the chair further by examining the design more closely. He was also involved in developing moulded leg splints for the US military over the years following his initial design. This all helped in guiding him towards producing a more affordable and viable product on the market.
In 1945, Eames final design was introduced as the LCW chair. It reduced the high production costs and, ultimately, also improved the comfort of the seat. This was achieved by making singular pieces and putting them all together at the end. What was once a tricky and expensive process was now much easier and quicker to produce.
Another new feature to Eames' original design were the 4 rubber shock mounts glued and then screwed into the bottom and back of the chair. This helped connect all the separate parts and make a much more solid piece of furniture. Furthermore, this lead to the design of the LCM or Laminated Chair Metal, which had the inclusion of a steel frame that also increased stability.
The LCW chair from Eames was a breakthrough in furniture design during the middle of the 20th century. It combined many important factors such as ergonomic comfort, a natural and attractive wooden look, a sustainable product to produce and visual appeal. You could compare elements of Thonet's No. 14 chair and Rietvelt's Red and Blue chair.
The winning chair was not yet practical as it cost an extensive sum of money to produce and was not very easy to build. Eames and Saarinen's design was first called the Organic chair and it consisted of a single shell for the seat and back that was placed on the structure for the legs.
A single-shell chair remained a problem for Eames and therefore he decided to develop the chair further by examining the design more closely. He was also involved in developing moulded leg splints for the US military over the years following his initial design. This all helped in guiding him towards producing a more affordable and viable product on the market.
In 1945, Eames final design was introduced as the LCW chair. It reduced the high production costs and, ultimately, also improved the comfort of the seat. This was achieved by making singular pieces and putting them all together at the end. What was once a tricky and expensive process was now much easier and quicker to produce.
Another new feature to Eames' original design were the 4 rubber shock mounts glued and then screwed into the bottom and back of the chair. This helped connect all the separate parts and make a much more solid piece of furniture. Furthermore, this lead to the design of the LCM or Laminated Chair Metal, which had the inclusion of a steel frame that also increased stability.
The LCW chair from Eames was a breakthrough in furniture design during the middle of the 20th century. It combined many important factors such as ergonomic comfort, a natural and attractive wooden look, a sustainable product to produce and visual appeal. You could compare elements of Thonet's No. 14 chair and Rietvelt's Red and Blue chair.
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The Charles Eames LCW is an amazing example of mid century modern furniture, check more stunning designs and the best mid century modern homes ever on the Mid Century Home blog.
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