Charles and Ray Eames
DSR Shell Chair
Replica
Charles and Ray Eames
1950
If there is a chair that can be said to be the archetype of most modern dining chairs, it is the Eames series of shell chairs. In 1948, following the Second World War, there was a growing need for low-cost, mass produced furniture. Charles and Ray Eames understood industrial processes better than most. The combination of their dedication, hard won knowledge and prolific design skills resulted in this perennially successful range of chairs. Originally presented in stamped metal, and later produced in fiberglass, before finding its ultimate expression in durable polypropylene, the winning elements of this deceitfully simple design remain its extreme adaptability and customisability. The name, DSR, is a description of the chair itself, and stands for “Dining height, Side chair, Rod Base” An unprecedented chair for its time, by virtue of the use of innovative materials in different combinations, and still highly revered and desired for its versatility, the Eames chairs are timeless icons of functional minimalism. Equally at home in a stadium as in a luxury hotel foyer or cosy home dining room, they are also easily cleaned and extraordinarily durable. Dare we say, a perfect chair?
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“The details are not the details. They make the design.”
Charles Eames
The first incarnation of this chair was exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art’s “International Competition for Low-cost Furniture Design” of 1948 and was awarded second place.
The all-in-one ‘shell’ seat design was a first in history. The inspiration behind the chair was to create a product made from unusual, affordable materials with multiple uses and the Eameses had been working on the concept since the late 1930s. The chairs have been in mass production since 1950.
The DSR comes with a rod base in an Eiffel Tower inspired arrangement. It is part of an enormous collection of different configurations of Eames dining chairs. There are variations of the chair in molded wood, fiberglass and even wire, upholstered, cushioned or “as is”, and with a metal, wood, rocker or office chair base.
Since its emergence in 1950 the Eames chairs have been part of a permanent collection at MoMA, New York.
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Simple Comfort
Polypropylene plastic is ergonomically molded to comfortably accommodate the individual in the seat with added back support. The plastic is not all rigid and if the individual leans back it will give way and restore to its original form. The clean lines of the shell sit atop a web of thin tubular steel combining its lightness and elegance with an organic and structured strength.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Reinforced polypropylene is shaped into a uniform, textured shell that sits securely atop a four-legged stainless steel wire base with cross struts, carefully put together and hand-polished. The construction is exceptionally strong.
Charles and Ray Eames are counted among the most important figures of twentieth-century design. After their marriage in 1941, they moved to Los Angeles, where together they began experimenting with techniques for the three-dimensional moulding of plywood. The aim was to create comfortable chairs and they believed strongly that good design should be affordable to all. They were forerunners in working with plywood, fibreglass and plastic. Their work spans the fields of furniture design, filmmaking, photography and exhibition design.
“The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead.”
Charles Eames
Product Literature
The shell of the DSR chair is molded from polypropylene, a heavy duty and impact resistant material. The four-legged stainless steel base with cross struts is meticulously measured, cut, shaped and hand-polished before assembly. Our reproduction stays faithful to the original design.
Product Materials
Shell: Died-through polypropylene
Frame: Stainless steel
Product Dimensions
Height: 83cm
Depth: 47cm
Width: 47cm
Seat height: 43cm
Carrying weight: 130kg
Weight as shipped: 16kg
Care Instructions
Polypropylene: Polypropylene is a hardwearing, uniformly shaped and coloured material. Special additives add colour fastness. However, exposed sunlight exposure should be limited to retain the original colour. Polypropylene can be cleaned using a mild detergent or a glass cleaner with a soft cloth. Do not use hard woven cloths or abrasive cleaning agents.
Metal: Do not use an abrasive material on the metal. Clean the item with a mild detergent and water. You can dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in the solution or a non-abrasive pad and use it to scrub off any residue or dirt on the item. Dry any residual moisture with a soft, dry cloth.