Eames Fiberglass Armchair LAR

The Eames Fiberglass Armchair LAR from Vitra is one of Charles and Ray Eames' most iconic furniture designs – a low lounge chair where sculptural form, materiality and function come together in a timeless whole. The model was launched in 1950 and is characterised by its organically shaped shell in fibreglass, combined with the characteristic steel wire base. The low seat height and graphic construction give the chair a relaxed but distinctive expression.

The design originated in the couple's entry to the Museum of Modern Arts' International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design in 1948. The ambition was to create an ergonomically shaped chair that could be combined with several different bases and thus adapted to changing needs and environments. Two years later, the first models were launched on the market, introducing a completely new type of furniture – the chair with a continuous shell and interchangeable bases.

The LAR, an abbreviation for Lounge Height Armchair Rod Base, was one of the first variants. Its geometric steel wire base was early nicknamed “Cat’s Cradle”, inspired by the intricate lines of the wire game. The model was also a personal favorite of Charles and Ray Eames and appears in several historical photographs from the couple’s home, the Eames House in Pacific Palisades.

The fiberglass shell is a central part of the chair’s character. The material’s vibrant, slightly irregular surface and visible fibers make each piece visually unique and give the shell an almost natural tactility. In some colours, a subtle transparency also appears, in line with the earliest original models.

Today, the armchair is manufactured by Vitra, with the same respect for materials, proportions and details that made the original one of the most important furniture designs of the 20th century. With its low profile and sculptural presence, it works equally well as a solitary piece or in combination with a sofa or other lounge furniture.