In 1942, there was a great need for emergency transport splints for wounded soldiers. At the time, Levis perforated metal splints, which were designed in 1890, were still being used and often caused more harm than good. The American spirit of contributing to the war effort prompted Charles and Ray Eames to design a leg splint made from plywood. The young married couple still held day jobs and after work they would run experiments using the newly introduced Kazam! Machine, which molded together thin sheets of wood.
The leg splint was molded to Charles Eames’ own leg and when it was introduced, it was an immediate success—it was lightweight, utilitarian, simple to manufacture and transport in large numbers and its slats allowed medics to pass cloth through it. Around 150,000 splints were ordered, allowing Charles Eames to quit his job and focus full time on designing.
The LCW, which has been often referred to as “the chair of the century,” followed in 1945 and has much in common with the leg splint— both are curved with a concern for the human body, modest and functional in their appearance, and it was the splint’s design that perfected their revolutionary use of plywood. The splint, along with the LCW, embodies the modern design ethos of the marriage of function and form of which the Eamses were innovators and masters.
The vast influence of Charles and Ray Eames is immeasurable; Responding to the burgeoning attitudes and landscapes of mid-century America, they created an utterly unique and novel design world, born from their curiosity, industriousness, optimism and humanistic impulses.
In 1940, the Charles and Ray met at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where Charles was collaborating with Eero Saarinen on furniture designs and Ray was studying painting. The two married in 1941 and moved to Los Angeles soon after, establishing their highly influential design firm that, with the help of other talented designers they brought in, would re-shape modern design. Early explorations in plywood and mass-producing sturdy, livable and charming furniture brought them success and allowed them to extend their efforts into more diverse fields such as education, textiles, filmmaking, curating, architecture and industrial design.
The Eames Office operated for over four decades, exerting an enormous influence on modern and contemporary design through their limitless vision of the human spirit. Charles passed away in 1978 and Ray died ten years later to the day. Their contribution to the American ethos continues to inspire and influence contemporary design today.
Auction Results Charles and Ray Eames
