Designed by Charles and Ray Eames

Eames Shell Task Chairs

Angled view of Eames Task Chair with gray fiberglass shell and gray upholstery.
  • Eames Task Chair with red upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell, viewed from the front.
  • Eames Task Chair with brown upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell, viewed at an angle.
  • Front view of Eames Task Chair with brown fiberglass shell.
  • Side view of Eames Task Chair with blue upholstered seat pad and white plastic shell.
  • Eames Task Chair with walnut shell, viewed from the front.
  • Front view of Eames Task Chair with gray fiberglass shell and gray upholstery.
  • Eames Task Chair with brown upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell, viewed from the front.
  • Angled view of Eames Task Chair with red upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell.
  • Eames Task Chair with gray fiberglass shell and gray upholstery, viewed at an angle.
  • Angled view of Eames Task Chair with off-white upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell.
  • Eames Task Chair with off-white upholstery and off-white fiberglass shell, viewed from the front.
  • Front view of Eames Task Chair with gray fiberglass shell and gray upholstery.

A new iteration on an archetype

Eames Task Chair with blue upholstered seat pad and white plastic shell, viewed from the front.

Eames Task Chairs

It beckons with an aesthetic and a biomorphic shape that have become archetypal: the Eames moulded shell, prized since 1950 for inventing a new paradigm for simple and comfortable, sophisticated and playful seating. In this iteration as the Eames Task Chair, the iconic chair steps up its service as a desk chair that provides effortless functionality and flexibility.

The Eames Task Chair marries the beloved moulded one-piece shell design - in side or armchair versions - with a five-star base for just-right stability and a height-adjustable, swivel-mounted seat and casters for mobility. The moulded fibreglass of the original Eames Shell Chair, with all of its expressive surface variation, is once again available thanks to an environmentally friendly process. Along with the moulded plastic version, it offers a customisable aesthetic;  colours range from fresh to vintage pigments, available with or without full upholstery, or a seat pad. The Eames Task Chair also offers a choice of bent wire or moulded wood side chair shells. Whatever options you choose, Eames Task Chairs are look-good, feel-good form following function at its agile best.

Design Story

The Eames Shell Chair was born in 1950, a child of the visionary wife-and-husband design team, Ray and Charles Eames. The boundless creativity of these pioneers of modern furniture helped transform the home and office with form-fitting comfort, flexibility and colour.

A timeless favourite, the Eames Shell Chair’s ongoing iterations affirm the Eamesian philosophy that “Design addresses itself to the need". As the need for versatile, comfortable seating has changed over time, so has their iconic single-shell chair, with new materials and bases extending its utility. The need for stylish, expressive seating for offices - including home offices - inspired the original four-star base, added in 1953. With the development of a five-star base, the Eames Task Chair once again sets the side and armchair shells on casters for use as a desk chair.

Front view of Eames Task Chair with off-white fiberglass shell and red upholstery.

Herman Miller x HAY

Classic Eames designs thoughtfully reimagined by Danish design house HAY.

View the Collection

Eames Moulded Plastic Chair group shot on sage background.

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

More about Charles & Ray Eames

Product Designers Ray and Charles Eames

You may also like:

  • Aeron Chair Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf
  • Cosm Chairs Studio 7.5
  • Embody Chairs Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber
  • Asari Chair Naoto Fukasawa
  • Mirra 2 Chair Studio 7.5
  • Sayl Chairs Yves Béhar
  • Zeph Chair Studio 7.5
  • Lino Chairs Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
  • Verus Chairs
  • Eames Aluminium Group Chairs Charles and Ray Eames