| Product type | Multi-purpose chair |
| Dimensions |   Without upholstery / with seat upholstery / with full upholstery Dimensions in mm |
| Colours | Seat shell, new colours 2024   Seat shell            Seat cushion / full upholstery, Hopsak                   (Further Hopsak colours available on request) Base    |
| Material | Base: Chrome plated or powder coated wire with cross struts Upholstery: Hopsak (100 % polyamide) Seat shell: dyed-through polypropylene (white) or dyed-through RE plastic (all other colours) Please note: The RE plastic employed for the Eames Plastic Chair seat shells is composed of granules of recycled plastics from the German "Yellow Sack" packaging recycling system and approx. 10% fibreglass material to achieve the necessary rigidity. The familiar colours of the seat shells do not change as a result of this material change. However, with the lighter seat shell colours tiny pigments of differently coloured granules may be visible upon closer inspection. These pigments do not represent a defect, but are a feature of the new sustainable material. Below is a comparative example of the colour "ice grey" in high magnification - the new material is on the right.  |
| Variants | Optionally available with seat upholstery or full upholstery, edge reinforcement (piping) see picture. Available with either a powder coated or chrome plated base Optionally available with glides for carpets or felt pads for hard floors. White frames have white glides as standard, all other frame colours are supplied with black glides. |
| Functions and Properties | Non-stackable Suitable for outdoor use (Version with basic dark or white coated base) |
| Care | For cleaning the plastic elements always use a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent. Dust and fluff can be vacuumed, marks are best treated with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent. Professional cleaning should be undertaken with the chair fully assembled and using upholstery foam or with a professional cleaning machine |
| Awards & Museum | Permanent collection, MoMA, New York |
| Certificates | EN 13761 (Office furniture - Visitor chairs) EN 1728 (Furniture - Seating - Test methods for the determination of strength and durability) |
| Sustainability | The Vitra Eames DSR is: 100 % recyclable contains up to 14 % recycled material Vitra conform to: ISO 9001: 2008 (Quality management systems) ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental management systems) Since the beginning of the production year 2024 the Eames Plastic Chair seat shells have been been manufactured from a recycled material, the so-called RE plastic. RE plastic material consists of granules of recycled plastics from the German “Yellow Sack” packaging recycling system. This new material is not only recycled but 100% recyclable, In addition its production generates significantly lower climate-damaging emissions and requires less energy. Since June 1st 2019 Vitra has been operated a take-back program: Eames Fibreglass Chairs and Eames Plastic Chairs that are no longer required can be returned to Vitra. |
| Warranty | 24 months Register product and secure extended manufacturer's warranty of 10 years |
| Accessories | Suitable Seat Pad for Eames Side Chairs and Leather Seat Pads by Parkhaus Berlin or Seat Dots and Soft Seats (Typ B) by Vitra |
| Product family | Eames Plastic Chairs |
| Product datasheet | Please click on the picture for detailed information (ca. 5,4 MB). |
| Product presentation |
DSR means Dining Height Side Chair Rod Base.
The designation RE means that the Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSR is made from recycled plastic, a material from which the Eames Plastic Chairs RE have been produced since the beginning of 2024. With the introduction of the new sustainable material, three new colour nuances were also introduced, the new white “Cotton White”, the new yellow “Citron” and the new green “Emerald”, which replace the previous colours white, sunlight and green respectively.
The colours white, yellow and green differ from the original colours in the new recycled Eames Plastic Chairs version.
No, manufacture of the Eames Plastic Chairs in the unrecycled material version will cease in early 2024 and in the future only the sustainable material will be employed in the Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSR.
The Eames DSR meets the "GS" test standards and is tested up to 110kg.
The way in which the chair is used is also important. Swinging, for
example, causes a higher strain which can reduce the chairs lifetime.
Since Charles and Ray Eames designed the chairs the average height of the population has grown by around 10 cm. Therefore, in addition to adjusting the height of the Eames Lounge Chair in 2015, Vitra also adapted the Plastic Chairs (DSW/DAW, DSR/DAR, DSX/DAX) to better meet current user needs. The bases of the chairs are consequently now on average 2 cm higher. The change is minimal and accordingly can only be seen in direct comparison.
Only the Vitra Eames DSR with the powder coated base can be used outdoors; special additives in the polypropylene slowing down the fading process. Despite that Vitra recommend not to leave the chairs in the sun for longer than necessary. Felt pads are not suitable for outdoor use, for outdoor use the plastic glides should always be used. Upholstered versions are not suitable for outdoor use.
The seat height is determined according to the European standard EN 1335-1. This states that the chair be clamped in a special tester and loaded with a weight. The dimensions are then determined in the loaded state. The seat height being measured at a position defined by the standard and when in the load bearing state. The stated seat height cannot be measured with a conventional measuring device, rather is a normalised comparison value so that different chairs (for example, with and without height adjustment, or with varying thickness of seat cushion, etc.) can be compared with one another.
On the underside of the seat shell, the material marking PP indicates the polypropylene used for the shell, a seal certifies the safety of the chair and a sticker indicates the place of manufacture and serial number. In addition, Vitra always supplies the original fully assembled.
The new colour palette allows for more possible combinations and offers a broader spectrum of different colour shades with the delineation into "Natural Tones", "Mid Tones" and "Bright Tones".
With the development of new production process and the use of new materials Charles and Ray Eames revolutionised furniture history. More than once. And although these days a perfectly normal feature of living rooms and commercial spaces around the globe, at its launch the Eames Plastic Chair family was a revolutionary. Created in context of the New York Museum of Modern Art's "International Competition for Low Cost Furniture" the design, consisting of a singular piece of fibreglass reinforced polyester resin, was awarded second place. From the initial idea quickly arose a family of multi-purpose chairs in both armchair and side chair versions and with range of bases. The Vitra Eames DSR having a four-legged base with a delicate wire base which beautifully embodies Charles and Ray Eames credo of providing "the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least".
Unmistakable and versatile - the Eames Plastic Chairs
Originally the Eames plastic chairs were produced in fibreglass reinforced polyester resin. A material that in the 1940s and 19590s was genuinely revolutionary as it allowed an until then unachievable combination of strength, durability and haptic elegance at an affordable price. From the earliest days of their career's the designs of Charles and Ray Eames were produced in America by Herman Miller. In the 1950s Willi and Erika Fehlbaum secured the rights to produce the products fro Europe and Asia, thus beginning the Vitra story. In 1993 increasing environmental problems and worries associated with fibreglass led Vita to stop production of the Eames plastic chairs. In 1999 however the development of new materials allowed production to be restarted using polypropylene. Polypropylene may not build the patina so characteristic of the fibreglass Eames chairs is however recyclable and less environmentally troublesome.
Always modern and timeless resistant - the Vitra DSR Chair
Maybe it was the extraordinary nature of their relationship that led Charles and Ray Eames to develop some of the most extraordinary furniture designs of the 20th century. Ray Eames was born in Sacramento, California in 1912, Charles Eames in 1907 in St. Louis, the pair met in 1940 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art where Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen were preparing for the New York Museum of Modern Art's "Organic Furniture Competition" A year later the pair married and established their design studio in Los Angeles from where, in addition to furniture design the pair worked across creative genres, most notable being their film, exhibition design and photography projects. Although all Charles and Ray Eames designs are officially attributed to both, the division of labour on the projects was clearly regulated: the trained architect Charles Eames being responsible for the technical aspects, the trained artist Ray Eames the aesthetic. Charles Eames died on august 21st 1978, on the same day Ray Eames closed the Eames Design Studio and exactly ten years later on August 21st 1988 Ray Eames passed away in Los Angeles.
Ray and Charles Eames
In both the USA and Europe the 1940s and 1950s were a period of unprecedented, and often rapid, change. The war was over, all eyes were directed forward and everyday lives were dominated by new values, ideals and sense of being. With their DSR side chair Charles and Ray Eames met the new expectations of post-war society. An increased demand for property led to previously unheard increases in property prices forcing ever more families into smaller properties: a situation which demanded new types of furniture. New types of furniture that could also be mass produced to meet the rapidly expanding demand.
Created in the new, revolutionary, material of fibreglass the Eames multi-purpose chair perfectly met these conditions. In addition the flexibility of the Eames plastic chair family meant that they quickly found use in public buildings, schools, and other locations looking for variable, inexpensive seating solutions. And so a chair born of necessity has become a global, and much loved, design classic.
Vitra Atelier
Since the 1940s the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames has been produced in America by Herman Miller. In the 1950s Will and Erika Fehlbaum discovered a chair by Charles Eames in a shop window in New York and sought permission to produce Eames chairs in Europe. And so it came that since the late 1950's Vitra have been the officially licensed manufacturer of Charles and Ray Eames furniture designs for Europe and Asia. In addition to producing the pairs furniture a close, personal, relationship developed between Vitra and Charles and Ray Eames, so much so that today problems at Vitra are approached with the question "What would Charles and Ray do?".
A further indicator of the particular respect that existed between Charles and Ray Eames and Vitra is the fact that following Ray's death the Eames archive was entrusted to Vitra. From this archive Vitra are able, with permission from the Eames Estate, to regularly produce re-editions of long since forgotten Eames design classics. Beyond Charles and Ray Eames Vitra also have close professional relationships with leading contemporary designers such as Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec or Hella Jongerius. In addition to furniture, Vitra are also an important supporter of international architecture with their so-called Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein hosting buildings by leading contemporary architects including Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry or SANAA.
Production of an Eames Chair
Vitra Eames DSR
Dining Height Side Chair Rod Base
Vitra Eames DSX
Dining Height Side Chair X-Base
Vitra Eames DSW
Dining Height Side Chair Wood Base
Vitra Eames PSCC
Pivot Side Chair Cast Base on Castors
Vitra Eames DSS-N / DSS
Dining Height Side Chair Stacking Base
Vitra Eames DAR
Dining Height Armchair Rod Base
Vitra Eames DAX
Dining Height Armchair X-Base
Vitra Eames DAW
Dining Height Armchair Wooden Base
Vitra Eames PACC
Pivot Armchair Cast Base on Castors
Vitra Eames RAR
Rocking Armchair Rod Base
Vitra Eames LAR
Lounge Height Armchair Rod Base
Vitra Eames DAL
Dining Height Armchair La Fonda Base
Vitra DSR Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair Rod Base
Vitra DSX Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair X-Base
Vitra DSW Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair Wood Base
Vitra DAR Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair Rod Base
Vitra DAX Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair X-Base
Vitra DAW Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair Wooden Base
Vitra RAR Fiberglass
Rocking Armchair Rod Base
Vitra LAR Fiberglass
Lounge Height Armchair Rod Base
Vitra DKR Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell R-Wire Base
Vitra Eames DKX Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell X-Base
Vitra Eames DKW Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell Wood Base
Vitra Eames DKR Wire Chair Checker
Dining Height K-Wire Shell R-Wire Base
...The Eames plastic side chair shell was released a year later in the complementary DSX, DSW, DSR, PSCC and RSR versions, and the first upholstered plastic chairs appeared in 1953... An explanation can be found in our 2009 post DSR, RAR, DAW, ETC… The plastic chairs of Charles and Ray Eames...
There is nothing cheaper and less original in the world of journalism than a look back over the highlights of a year/sports event/concert series/etc. Except possibly "Ten tips for the perfect curry/haircut/crease" However such a review offers the uninspired...
...Eksempelvis har 'Eames DSR - Dining height Side chair Rod base' og 'Eames DSW - Dining height Side chair Wood base' samme S-skal, men forskellige typer stel...
...And so we have spent the past few days directing Eiermann desk, Vitra DSR and USM Haller carrying Vitra Eames Elephants through the endless corridors of the (smow)warehouse...
...And so one has, for example the Eames DSR - Dining height Side chair Rod base - and the DSW - Dining height Side chair Wood base...
All 'DSR' Posts
