{"product_id":"modernise-eames-dae-fibreglass-armchair-in-elephant-grey","title":"(2 Available) Modernica Eames DAE Fibreglass Armchair in Elephant Grey, USA 1989","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePair of elephant grey Modernica Fibreglass Armchairs by Charles \u0026amp; Ray Eames, USA, circa 1990s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA pair of moulded fibreglass armchairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames and manufactured by Modernica in Los Angeles, circa 1990s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eThe Eames’ developed the shell chair at the end of the 1940s while exploring how a comfortable chair could be made from a single moulded form and then combined with a range of interchangeable bases. Their original entry for MoMA’s 1948 International Competition for Low Cost Furniture Design used a metal shell, but this proved too expensive to manufacture. Fibreglass provided the solution and the first production versions appeared in 1950. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eIt was an important moment in furniture design. Fibreglass was still a relatively new material, more closely associated with industrial applications than domestic furniture. The combination of resin and glass fibres allowed the Eameses to create a lightweight but strong shell whose shape followed the body without the need for traditional upholstery or joinery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eOne of the things we particularly like about these chairs is how clearly you can see the material. The individual glass fibres remain visible throughout the black shells, particularly around the edges where the light catches them. The slight variations in fibre pattern and surface are characteristic of moulded fibreglass rather than imperfections. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eThese examples were produced by Modernica, who have manufactured fibreglass furniture in Los Angeles since 1989 using the traditional high-pressure moulding process. Modernica’s factory houses historic fibreglass presses and specialist machinery associated with the manufacture of these chairs, and the company says it has preserved the original production techniques taught to them by composites pioneer Sol Fingerhut. The shells are still pressed individually in Los Angeles. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eThe chairs have the distinctive black wooden \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDAX base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e. The Eames chair names are essentially a code describing the particular combination of shell and base. In \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDAX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e, the letters stand for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDining Height Armchair X-Base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e. The “DA” therefore identifies a dining-height armchair, while the “X” refers to the four-legged tubular wood base. Other familiar variations include DAR, or Dining Height Armchair Rod Base, and DAW, or Dining Height Armchair Wood Base. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eThis system was central to Charles and Ray Eames’ thinking. Rather than creating one fixed chair, they designed a family of shells and bases that could be combined for different settings and uses. It helped turn the Eames shell chair into one of the most adaptable and recognisable furniture designs of the twentieth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eBoth chairs retain clear Modernica manufacturer’s marks and are in very good vintage condition, with light signs of age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDesigner:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Charles \u0026amp; Ray Eames\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Modernica\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eModel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e DAX - Dining Height Armchair X-Base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e USA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Circa 1990s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Moulded fibreglass, steel rods and painted wood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e Two available\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"a fold of chairs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58860090196352,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/3093\/files\/DSC04446-1882.jpg?v=1788962322","url":"https:\/\/www.afoldofchairs.com\/products\/modernise-eames-dae-fibreglass-armchair-in-elephant-grey","provider":"a fold of chairs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}