Vitra Eames Plastic Chair

The Eames Plastic Chair was designed by the iconic American husband-and-wife duo Charles and Ray Eames. It was originally introduced in 1948 for the Museum of Modern Art's "International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design." It holds the historic distinction of being the first chair to be mass-produced using a molded plastic shell.

The acronyms denote the specific base type attached to the molded plastic shell. The RAR features a rocking base made of maple runners, while the DAR has a four-leg metal "Eiffel" base. The DSR utilizes a side chair "Eiffel" wire base, allowing for a more compact footprint.

In 2004, Vitra officially switched the material of the Eames Plastic Chair from fiberglass to environmentally friendly polypropylene. The original 1950s chairs were made of fiberglass, which gave off fine glass dust during manufacturing. Today, modern polypropylene is used to provide a safer, more comfortable, and easily recyclable seating solution.

An authentic Vitra Eames Plastic Chair (like the DSR or DAR) typically retails for around $400 to $500 USD depending on the base type and upholstery options. While Herman Miller holds the license for the Americas, Vitra holds the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the chairs in Europe and Asia. The price reflects the chair's historic design pedigree and complex molding process.