The Eames molded plastic chair was originally fabricated in stamped steel in 1948 by Charles Eames, an American designer, and submitted as a prototype in a worldwide low-cost furniture contest. In 1950, the seat of the chair was converted to fiberglass, a material which was never used before that time for furniture. This material not only made the chair lighter but gave them a smooth, polished and very modern look. It is said that Charles Eames was dissatisfied with the fiberglass coloring. He had always visualized the chair to have a solid uniform color and matte finish but that did not happen till after his demise. Thanks to the advancement of materials, today these award-winning molded chairs are made of recyclable polypropylene and come in various styles, designs and a variety of vibrant colors.
The Eames plastic armchair and the Eames plastic side chair have high backs, deep seat pockets and comfortable waterfall edges that help reduce the pressure off the back and thighs. The chair seats are available in an array of colors. The base of the chairs may vary. They may have a four-legged tubular steel base in chrome or powder coated paint or have a four- legged base that is cross-strutted. These cross-strutted base chairs are generally referred to as Eiffel chairs on account of the shape.
Similar to the Eames plastic arm and side chairs, the molded plastic rocking chair by Eames has a seat that is made of recyclable polypropylene and comes in 10 different colors. The metal support base is available in chrome and black. The rockers are made of solid maple or walnut wood.
High quality Charles Eames replica furniture is now being manufactured by several companies and these can be purchased online or through stores.