Industrial Materials for Furniture: Herman Miller & Eames
Molded Plywood Furniture
Evans Products Company was one of the top suppliers of plywood in World War II times, supplying to the automobile, aircraft, and railway industries. In 1945, after several attempts to break into the furniture industry, Evans successfully showcased an exhibition of molded plywood furniture designed by the Eames brothers Charles and Ray. During WWII, shifting their attention to the war effort, the Eames brothers produced molded plywood leg splints for the U.S. Navy, prompting the beginning of their experiments with the material in 1940. Because plywood and new adhesives were readily available after the war, supplying to the furniture industry allowed Evans to continue to diversify their business (Auscherman et al, 2019, p.135).
Molded Plastic Chairs
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
In 1956 Eames combined the knowledge from their material experiments with molded plywood and plastic and introduced the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Designed for relaxing, the chair design was created for the Organic Design competition in 1940. Quickly becoming an iconic symbol of high status and staple for interior design, in 1956 it retailed for $578 and due to its lasting impact on interior design, the set can still be purchased today for $7,995 (Auscherman et al, 2019, p.181-183).
