The Evolution of Shell Chair

From a casual observer to a modern design enthusiast, a lot of people can recognize the Shell chair on sight. Although most people do not know the chair’s name or the process involved in coming up with the curvy seat. As a result of inability to compromise on quality, the designer spent many years developing the iconic shell chair. These are some things to know about the chair.

The Beginnings

Charles Eames start working with bent plywood in late 1930s. His aim was to create a single piece seat and back. To achieve this particular design, he took detours along and changes in design and materials to arrive at the final product. His first concept chair had two-dimensional curves , but was manufactured in limited quantities. Since he was not satisfied with the quality of these chairs, he continued his research with various manufacturing processes and materials to get what he envisioned. By re-working the original design, the designers came up with what is now called Shell chair.

Success

The designers participated in different competitions. At first, their design did not live up because of the high cost of production. Thus, the designers had to look for a new material that better suits their plans. Finally, they found the right material that was yet to be utilized in consumer applications before, fiberglass-reinforced plastic. In fact, this was the perfect material for creating organic chairs. Moreover, the production process is cost effective. Mass production of these chairs started in 1950. However, that did not mark the end of the evolution.

Material Concerns

A wide range of bases were manufactured to allow for easy customization of the chair to specific uses, from working to dining to lounging. Thus, an upholstered version was developed, giving the chair a textured and two-toned look. In 1980s, there were concerns about the environmental impact around fiberglass production. Thus, production was temporarily stopped. In 1990s an alternative material was found known as recyclable polypropylene. The good thing about this material is that it is environmental friendly.

How to Choose

With a wide range of bases, three materials, and two seat types, you can easily find Shell chair that fits your style. Ensure you choose Shell chair that you love. Usually, the hardest part is choosing the right color scheme because there are plenty of options. You can identify these types of chairs using manufacturing codes. For instance, you can find some made of wood and molded fiberglass.