Designed by Charles and Ray Eames

Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs

Two Eames Molded Fiberglass Armchairs, one with a wire base and one with a low wire base.
  • Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs in parchment with checker sienna dark khaki upholstery and seat pads around Nelson X-leg table in santos palisander.
  • A family of Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs in a variety of colors.
  • A setting of Eames Molded Fiberglass Side Chairs in Red Orange with Maple Dowel Legs and Nelson X-Leg Table.
  • Gray Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs arranged around Nelson Pedestal Tables in a cafe setting.
  • An up close view of the shell of a dark green Eames Molded Fiberglass Chair.
  • Eames Molded Fiberglass Armchair in Sepia Brown Hopsak with Walnut Dowel Legs.
  • Eames Molded Fiberglass Armchair in Red Orange with Trivalent Wire Base.
  • A red Eames Molded Fiberglass Chair with arms and a wire base.
  • Eames Molded Armchair in Parchment Fiberglass with Olive Pink Checker Seat Pad.
  • A dark green Eames Molded Fiberglass Chair with arms and a walnut dowel base.
  • Eames Molded Fiberglass Side Chair in Red Orange upholstered in Hopsak Orange with Walnut Dowel Base.
  • Eames Molded Fiberglass Armchair in Black with Ebony Dowel Legs.

Enduring, functional, beautiful—that’s why it’s a classic

A family of Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs in a variety of colors.

Eames Molded Fiberglass Chairs

A Finer Fiberglass

Thanks to a new proprietary process of producing fiberglass, Herman Miller is once again able to produce the Eames original 1950 Molded Fiberglass Chair safely by means of a less volatile, monomer-free “dry bind” process. Like the Eameses’ original single-shell chairs, our new fiberglass finish has the same covetable surface variation and tell-tale fiberglass striations that have attracted avid vintage collectors for decades.

They are available in both the arm and side chair formats, in a range of archival colors, and with a choice of bases. Armchair and side chair shells are also available fully upholstered or with an upholstered seat pad.

The process for making shells and the nature of fiberglass mean that each shell is unique and can possess traits such as tiny cavities in the surface, small points of lighter or darker color, or faint circular shadows where base attaches to shell. All chairs can be recycled through the Herman Miller Take Back Program.

The endless possibilities of a simple, gracious form

Discover all the ways Eames Shell Chairs can work for you.

Meet the family

A casual arrangement of Eames shell chairs and stools in fiberglass, wire, wood, and plastic.

For every need

Charles Eames famously said, “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.” With the molded plastic, fiberglass, and wood shell chairs—as well as the wire chair—the Eameses have created a universal response to what everyone wants from a chair: a simple, gracious form that fits any body and every place.

A poster showing photos of various mid-century modern furniture pieces.
Ray and Charles Eames, designers of the Eames Molded Wood Stool.

In every way

Borne out of Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen’s early investigations molding plywood at Cranbrook Academy in 1939, and continued with Ray at the Eames studio in Venice, California, the molded chair is exemplary of the Eameses’ iterative process and their desire to make “the best for the most for the least.” With each new form, finish, and configuration, the Eameses continued to push the boundaries of what the shell chair could be. After experimenting with single-form plywood and stamped metal, they turned to fiberglass and experimented with bent wire. When fiberglass production proved unhealthy for the environment, the decision was made to switch production to a safer plastic. Now, with advancements in safe fiberglass composition, dynamic veneer technologies, and sustainable materials, the evolution continues with the Molded Fiberglass, Molded Wood, and Molded Plastic Chairs.

For everyone

The Eames Shell Chair was designed on the principle of adaptability, offering innumerable configurations to serve a wide variety of applications and environments. It’s what makes the chair a classic worthy of museum collections—and living rooms, laundromats, lobbies, and cafés. It’s what makes it a great first piece of furniture to buy in your twenties, that’s still worthy and relevant enough to hand down to your children 20 years later. A diverse selection of shell, base, color, and finish options enable you to create your perfect chair. Just like every person, every chair has a story.

Historical images of eight chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames.

“The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”

More about Charles and Ray Eames

Product Designers Ray and Charles Eames

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