While beginning the design process for my chair, I started looking at mid-century modern furniture, since that is when plastics and mass-produced furniture really started. I want to recreate a design using the mycelium and bamboo, so I was looking for something simple and small enough to fit in the kilns at school.
Charles and Ray Eames were really big in mid-century furniture. They designed many of the pieces we still associate with the design style today, and Herman Miller still produces many of their popular designs. One of their most iconic designs is the fiberglass armchair, which was also available as a side chair without the arms. The formed fiberglass seat was dangerous to produce, so it was switched to plastic, only to be brought back by Herman Miller after they found a safer manufacturing method. The chairs can still be purchased from Herman Miller, and are available with upholstery, as well as different base options.
You can take a look at some more photos of the chairs on Herman Miller’s website here.