Designed by Charles and Ray Eames

Eames Molded Wood Stool

Upper half of an Eames Molded Wood Stool with a dark finish, viewed from the front.
 

A simple, gracious form

Eames Molded Wood Stool with a dark finish and silver legs, viewed from a 45-degree angle.

Eames Molded Wood Stool

The plywood molding technique perfected by Charles and Ray Eames led to the development of a number of iconic designs for Herman Miller—in addition to laying the foundation for a major movement in modern furniture design. Yet in their lifetimes, the Eameses were unable to execute their single-shell chair design in molded wood. Decades later, thanks to a proprietary process of 3-D veneer manufacturing technology, the complex curves of Eames Molded Wood Shell Chairs were finally realized. The refined, enduring molded wood shell form is available as Eames Molded Wood Stools.

Eames Molded Wood Stools are available in several veneers and come with an optional upholstered seat pad for enhanced comfort. The 4-leg base comes in bar- or counter-height, and offers its own choice of finish options.

The endless possibilities of a simple, gracious form

Discover all the ways Eames Shell Chairs can work for you.

Meet the family

A casual arrangement of Eames shell chairs and stools in fiberglass, wire, wood, and plastic.

For every need

Charles Eames famously said, “The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.” With the molded plastic, fiberglass, and wood shell chairs—as well as the wire chair—the Eameses have created a universal response to what everyone wants from a chair: a simple, gracious form that fits any body and every place.

A poster showing photos of various mid-century modern furniture pieces.
Ray and Charles Eames, designers of the Eames Molded Wood Stool.

In every way

Borne out of Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen’s early investigations molding plywood at Cranbrook Academy in 1939, and continued with Ray at the Eames studio in Venice, California, the molded chair is exemplary of the Eameses’ iterative process and their desire to make “the best for the most for the least.” With each new form, finish, and configuration, the Eameses continued to push the boundaries of what the shell chair could be. After experimenting with single-form plywood and stamped metal, they turned to fiberglass and experimented with bent wire. When fiberglass production proved unhealthy for the environment, the decision was made to switch production to a safer plastic. Now, with advancements in safe fiberglass composition, dynamic veneer technologies, and sustainable materials, the evolution continues with the Molded Fiberglass, Molded Wood, and Molded Plastic Chairs.

For everyone

The Eames Shell Chair was designed on the principle of adaptability, offering innumerable configurations to serve a wide variety of applications and environments. It’s what makes the chair a classic worthy of museum collections—and living rooms, laundromats, lobbies, and cafés. It’s what makes it a great first piece of furniture to buy in your twenties, that’s still worthy and relevant enough to hand down to your children 20 years later. A diverse selection of shell, base, color, and finish options enable you to create your perfect chair. Just like every person, every chair has a story.

Historical images of eight chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames.

The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.

More about Charles and Ray Eames

Product Designers Ray and Charles Eames