680 Dining Chair - Prototype Upholstery 2
1962
As the Eames Aluminum Group rose in popularity, manufacturer Herman Miller was met with an increasing demand for additional textiles such as the one seen on this dining chair. This development was perhaps unsurprising given that the furniture company boasted a diverse catalog of textiles that would have been familiar to many customers. Yet introducing new textile options was not an easy task, as the Eames Aluminum Group’s standard Naugahyde pads had been very specifically developed for the design— a prime example of the Eameses’ belief that industrial designs should be conceived of with industrial processes in mind. In particular, to accommodate a greater range of fabric options, including natural fibers, the essential use of heat in the pads’ production process had to be rethought. Importantly, rubber remained essential to the new pads’ makeup: a heat-resistant silicone rubber strip was attached along the edge of these more delicate textiles so that the pads could still be sealed in a manner similar to the Naugahyde originals.
- Manufacturer: Herman Miller, Inc.
- Medium:Upholstery (‘Polynit’ Orange #1539), aluminum, steel, nylon
- Dimensions:33 x 19 1/2 x 21 3/4 in. (83.8 x 49.5 x 55.2 cm)Seat height: 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)Weight: 14 lb. (6.4 kg)
- Design Date:1958
- Credit Line:All images courtesy of Eames Office
- Item:2019.2.62
