VitraEames Plastic ChairInformationProducts of the familyDesigner Eames Plastic ChairsCharles & Ray Eames, 1950'Getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least': with these words, Charles and Ray Eames described one of their main goals as furniture designers. None of their other designs come as close to achieving this ideal as the Plastic Chairs. For years, the designer couple explored the fundamental idea of a one-piece seat shell moulded to fit the contours of the human body. After experiments with plywood and sheet aluminium in the 1940s produce unsatisfactory results, their search for alternative materials led them to glass-fibre reinforced polyester resin.The Eameses recognised and fully exploited the advantages of the material: mouldability, rigidity, pleasant tactile qualities, suitability for industrial manufacturing methods. With this material, which was previously unknown in the furniture industry, they successfully developed the shell designs for serial production.
After their debut at the 'Low-Cost Furniture Design' competition organised by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948, the Plastic Armchair (A-shell) and Plastic Side Chair (S-shell) were launched on the market in 1950 as the very first mass-produced plastic chairs in the history of furniture.The Eames Plastic Chairs also introduced a new furniture typology that has since become widespread: the multifunctional chair whose shell can be joined with a variety of different bases to serve diverse purposes. As early as 1950, Charles and Ray Eames presented a series of bases that enabled various sitting positions. An especially striking model is the so-called Eiffel Tower base – an intricate and graceful design made of steel wire that inimitably combines light, elegant forms with structural strength.Today Vitra manufactures the comfortable seat shells of the Plastic Side Chairs and Plastic Armchairs in polypropylene, offering a multitude of bases, shell colours and upholstery options. This allows customers to specify countless different combinations and to use the chairs in the widest range of settings – from dining rooms, living rooms and home offices to office workspaces and conference rooms;
from restaurants and cafés to break rooms and cafeterias; from waiting areas and auditoriums to terraces and gardens.In 2016 Vitra has added approximately 20 mm to the height of the Eames Plastic Chairs DSX, DAX, DSR, DAR, DSW and DAW, while also revising the seat geometry. These modifications, which are aesthetically almost imperceptible, increase the comfort of this classic chair design, especially in combination with contemporary tables.Seat shell (14)Other coloursHopsak (28)Other colours2)4)2)1)1)2)2)Seat shell: dyed-through polypropylene. All models (except RAR) are available with a seat cushion (screwed to the seat shell) or full upholstery. The fully upholstered version has moulded polyurethane foam padding covered in Hopsak fabric, attached to the shell with a welted edge. Covers are available in all Hopsak fabric colours. Different shell and upholstery colours and various bases provide a multitude of possible combinations.Options: the Eames Plastic Chair is available as a visitor chair, dining chair, rocking chair, swivel chair or in stacking versions and with ganging brackets for row seating.
Beam-mounted shells are suited for use in waiting areas. Location: Santiago de Chile Select All Posts By This User Location: New York City / Buenos Aires Location: Brooklyn, SF, Tokyo Another option is to consider a chair of similar style that's not a blatant rip. Plycraft, maker of many an Eames knockoff, produced two pieces by George Mulhauser that might fill the bill. The first is clearly inspired by the Eames lounge but sufficiently different that they can't be confused. Mulhauser's version has a larger headrest, for a Bond villain vibe, and no tufting. Also, the back and headrest are made from a single piece of bent wood, which is pretty nifty. The second is the better known Mr. Chair. You can see them here. They're both relatively common and nice specimens can be had for less than a grand. Personally, I would not consider a direct rip of an Eames lounge. i was looking into some information for a Eames Lounge chair, the highest quality ones. I found 2 companies in particular with what seems to be the best materials and claimed craftsmanship.
Has anyone heard of these guys ? RoveConcepts, they are from Canada and IconicInteriors from UK. I'm leaning towards RoveConcepts, mostly for the fact its much easier to ship. Location: The American Gardens Building, West 81st Select All Posts By This Userpanies can currently sell replica goods providing 25 years has passed from the date the item originally went on sale, but a new EU ruling has extended that period to 70 years.Businesses which sell replica furniture could become liable to a potential fine of up to £50,000, and a custodial sentence of up to ten years. An EU ruling means that furniture replicas will be banned under copyright laws. Versions of the Eames chair (pictured) are currently available for less than £500, but people will soon have to pay £5,000 for an original Can you tell the difference? Cheap versions like the one on the left will be banned when the law is imposed, bringing the £1,200 Castiglioni design (right) back into copyrightThe ruling will appease designers who see their work recreated by high street chains at a fraction of the price, but homeowners will have to pay much more for fashionable furniture.
Versions of the Eames chair are currently available for less than £500, but these copies will be banned, meaning people would have to pay £5,000 for an original.Other iconic designs which will come into copyright include the Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen and the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe.A £250 replica Arco Floor lamp, like one owned by David and Samantha Cameron, would be taken off the shelves and the PM would have to pay £1,200 for an authentic product.The coalition government's decision to repeal Section 52 of the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988, as part of the the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, was expected to be implemented in 2020, to give companies affected time to adapt.However, a legal challenge has forced the government to fast track it to April 28 this year. This is despite complaints the short period would cause 'disproportionate harm'.Companies will have six months to sell their stock from this date.The changes have been backed by the likes of Sir Terence Conran and Vitra, a Swiss-based company which is licensed to produce many of these classic designs.
Other iconic designs which will come into copyright include the Egg chair (left) by Arne Jacobsen and the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der RoheTony Ash, Vitra UK managing director, said: 'We are very pleased with the change. Vitra's view is that if a law is changed for sound, logical, legal reasons, why wait another five years to enforce it?'We merely wanted the UK to conform to EU laws as quickly as possible after the government agreed that EU IP laws had to be adhered to in the UK.'The originals that we stand for are certainly superior to a copy. A design classic has a history and an added emotional value.' Professor Lionel Bently, an intellectual property expert at Cambridge University, is one of a number of legal academics who are critical of the change.He said: 'The repeal of section 52 was targeted at those who produce replicas of classic furniture but lots of other interests are in fact going to be affected by it.'Companies which publish design books may have to get numerous licences to reproduce photos because designs have come under copyright.'Even with respect to replica furniture makers, importers and sellers, the process has been far from satisfactory.
The Government has flip-flopped over the length of the proposed transitional period from five years to six month for fear of being sued.'They are scared of being sued and that seems to be a strange way to go about determining appropriate and proportionate protection of the established property rights and legitimate expectations of third parties.' ARCO FLOOR LAMP BY ACHILLE & PIER GIACOMO CASTIGLIONI Replicas can currently be bought for between £150 and £250An authentic lamp first produced by Flos in 1962 will now cost around £1,400.Pier Giacomo Castiglioni died in 1968Will now be under copyright until 2038 BARCELONA CHAIR WITH OTTOMAN BY LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROCHE Replicas can currently be bought for around £500An authentic chair and ottoman made by Knoll, licensed in 1929, will cost around £5,700Ludwig Mies van der Rohe died in 1969Will now be under copyright until 2039 EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR BY CHARLES AND RAY EAMES Replicas of the chair licensed in 1956 can be bought from around £279An authentic chair made by Vitra will cost from £3,390Ray Eames died in 1988Will now be under copyright until 2058
THE ORIGINAL 'EGG' CHAIR BY ARNE JACOBSEN Replicas of the model, first patented in 1952, can be bought from £329An authentic chair made by Conran will cost around £5,000Arne Jacobsen died in 1971Will now be under copyright until 2041 Expired Copyright Homeware Organisation, a campaign group, has called on the government to postpone the changes until 2020.Ivan Macquisten, ECHO campaign adviser, said: 'While ECHO members have been aware for some time of the threat to their livelihoods, others affected are only just waking up to the far-reaching consequences of this law change. 'Many of those whose businesses are at risk, as well as important cultural institutions and the consumer, have no idea of what is about to hit them.'At this late stage it is not too late to avert disaster, and we appeal to the Secretary of State, who has been extremely sympathetic to the case we have put forward, to do the sensible thing.'A spokesperson for the Intellectual Property Office said: 'Changes are being made to copyright law to bring copyright protection for works of artistic craftsmanship into line with other artistic creations like paintings and sculptures.