Cast Armrest 1

When the Eames Aluminum Group was introduced, optional armrests were offered for the lounge chair, desk and reclining models. And while the rest of the chairs’ polished aluminum elements were left unfinished, the Eameses specified that the armrests were to be coated either with a clear cellulosic layer or a “charcoal” black nylon layer, as seen in this example. The special treatment for the armrests stemmed from the fact that aluminum is subject to significant temperature variation, and so it was thought that a sitter’s comfort would be increased by evening out the temperature of the armrests (the chair’s one metal surface that would regularly come into contact with skin). This is yet another way in which the Eames Aluminum Group’s design was driven by matters of performance, rather than aesthetic or stylistic concerns. Of course, the choice still had an impact on the chairs’ appearance; from many angles the dark arms visually blend with the fabric seat, such that the bright aluminum curve of the side rails remains the designs’ most eye-catching line.