Originally conceived as outdoor furniture for the Miller residence in Columbus, Indiana, the Eames Aluminum Group quickly moved indoors, becoming a beloved fixture in both living rooms and modern workplaces. The materials that define the collection, aluminum and synthetic fabric, were chosen for their qualities of strength, lightness, and durability—qualities that embody the spirit of postwar American design. Building on their success in pushing the boundaries of furniture design through molded plywood, fiberglass, and bent wire rod seating, the Aluminum Group represents the last of the Eameses’ great material-driven innovations. 

Dive into the fascinating history of the Eames Aluminum Group through detailed artifact documentation and striking archival images from the Eames Office and the Herman Miller Archives. Explore the collection’s evolution, from hand-carved wooden and cast metal prototypes to early designs that show the transition from outdoor use to the timeless office chair still cherished today.

Two special inserts provide an intimate view into the end-to-end production of the Aluminum Group chair and the design process of Charles and Ray. The catalog also features an insightful essay by design scholar Hannah Rachel Pivo and a curatorial note from Llisa Demetrios, chief curator of the Eames Institute and granddaughter of Charles and Ray.

Essay by Hannah Rachel Pivo, curator and design scholar