The Eames LCM Chair was the abbreviated name of the famous 1946 Lounge Height (D) Side Chair (C) on Metal (M) Rod Base. The LCM was the lounger edition of the metal leg plywood chairs developed by Charles Eames in collaboration with the Evans Plywood Company.
The end of the second world war enabled Charles to bring together the experimental plywood techniques he had helped to develop, and his long-time interest for furniture design. The result was a series of four chairs which went on to be defined in history as ‘the Eames chairs’. The LCM was one of the first four adult chairs to be released using the new material along with the dining version DCM and the wood leg DCW and LCW chairs.
Although most were made in the readily available Birch or Ash, the Eames LCM Side Chair was made in a great number of other woods including Walnut and later on, Rosewood. They were also upholstered by factory fabrics and those later designed by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller.
Many of the plywood products ceased to be produced by the end of the 50s largely due to new trends and new materials being available to designers. They were of course superseded by the arrival of the plastic chair series but even they were based on the idea of changing bases and tops started with the plywood range. The LCM and sister DCM however were spared and continued to be produced through the decades until now.
The Eames Plywood Lounge Side Chair was first made by the Evans Plywood Company, in Los Angeles California. After some time production was shifted to Grand Lake in Michigan whereby the Herman Miller company was the principal distributor. In 1949 the Evans company sold the furniture range and all its rights to Herman Miller whom continued the production through the decades.
Part of the first group of commercially released furniture designs by Charles and Ray Eames, the 1946 LCM was one of two lounge chair options in the newly developed post war molded plywood. Initially manufactured by Evans, Herman Miller took over full production from 1949 and have made the design, without interruption, ever since. Over the years they have released the chair in a whole host of veneer finishes including Rosewood, Calico Ash, Walnut, Cherry and Palisander. The video showcases a beautiful, original and authentic Herman Miller made LCM from the early 1960's, made using the popular Calico Ash with mid color tones.
Height | 27.375” | 69.53 cm |
Width | 22.25” | 56.52 cm |
Depth | 25.375” | 64.45 cm |
Seat Height | 15.25” | 38.74 cm |
Top | 5 Layers of Molded Plywood, glued and with Rubber Shock Mounts |
Base | Welded Steel Rod Base |
Feet | Screw in Domes of Silence, Boot Glides, Nylon Glides |
There is no such thing as a 'generation' of a chair, not in real terms anyway. We can however, pinpoint certain periods of metamorphosis and natural evolution of a piece of furniture which helps us to define age, maker and potentially value. This is what we define as a generation!
Below are generations of the plywood LCM lounge side chair, first brought to the market in 1946 and where it continues even today.