Herman Miller Inc.
RAR (1950), Charles & Ray EamesDesigned in 1950 by Charles and Ray Eames, the iconic fiberglass armchair was intentionally an entry for the ‘International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design’. Sponsored by the Museum of Modern Art, this competition was organized by the urgent need in the post-war period for furniture adaptable to small housing units.
The fiberglass chair came in an armchair (as pictured above) and a shell version, and was offered in a variety of colors and bases, such as the Eiffel Tower metal base, a wooden base and a rocker base (as pictured above). The plastic fiberglass armchair is one of the most famous designs of Charles and Ray Eames, and is still popular today.
Trivia:
* in 1993, Vitra discontinued production of the fiberglass shells for ecological reasons. In 2004, Vitra resumed manufacture of the shells in polypropylene, a more environmentally friendly, yet uglier material. Herman Miller, the license holder in the US, still produces the chair in fiberglass – as it is intended;
* Herman Miller ceased production of the rocker in 1968 (until they reintroduced it 30 years later), however, pregnant employees continued to receive these chairs as a company gift until 1984.
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