PRODUCTS ROOMS Manufacturers & Designers Highlights Offers Info Stores
Vitra

Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX

by Charles & Ray Eames, 1950 — from 290,00 €
Vitra Logo
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX

Click here for more images  
360°
290,00 € *
More than 5 x in stock, delivery time 1 working day (country of delivery Germany)
3 % advance payment discount*: 281,30 € (Save 8,70 €)

The Eames DSX was designed in 1948 by Charles and Ray Eames for the MoMA New York's "Low Cost Furniture Design" competition. The Eames DSX is the simplest of the Eames plastic chair collection and realises the functional, affordable and flexible demands of the period in a way that means it remains as contemporary and relevant today as then. Since 2024 Vitra has manufactured the Eames Plastic Chair seat shells from resource-saving recycled material.

Details

Product type Multi-purpose chair
Dimensions

Without upholstery / with seat upholstery / with full upholstery



Dimensions in mm
Colours Seat shell, new colours 2024
17 Emerald RE
92 Citron RE
85 Cotton white RE

Seat shell
12 Deep black RE
56 Granite grey RE
48 Forest RE
34 Mustard RE
43 Rusty orange RE
03 Poppy red RE
41 Pale rose RE
11 Pebble RE
24 Light grey RE
23 Ice grey RE
04 White

Seat cushion / full upholstery, Hopsak
66 Nero
05 Dark grey
77 Nero / forest
73 Petrol / moor brown
22 Navy blue / dark grey
82 Ice blue / moor brown
23 Nero / ivory
80 Warmgrey / moor brown
88 Cognac / ivory
65 Coral / poppyred
19 Mustard / dark grey
18 Mustard / ivory
16 Yellow / ivory
87 Ivory / forest
86 Mint / forest
20 Green / ivory
81 Ice blue / ivory
79 Warmgrey / ivory

(Further Hopsak colours available on request)
Base
Basic dark
Chrome
White

Material Base: steel tubing
Upholstery: Hopsak (100% polyamide)
Seat shell: dyed-through polypropylene (white) or dyed-through RE plastic (all other colours)

Please note:
The RE plastic employed for the Eames Plastic Chair seat shells is composed of granules of recycled plastics from the German "Yellow Sack" packaging recycling system and approx. 10% fibreglass material to achieve the necessary rigidity. The familiar colours of the seat shells do not change as a result of this material change. However, with the lighter seat shell colours tiny pigments of differently coloured granules may be visible upon closer inspection. These pigments do not represent a defect, but are a feature of the new sustainable material. Below is a comparative example of the colour "ice grey" in high magnification - the new material is on the right.
Variants Optionally available with seat upholstery or full upholstery,edge reinforcement (piping) see picture.
Optionally available with glides for carpets or felt pads for hard floors.
White frames have white glides as standard, all other frame colours are supplied with black glides.
Functions & Properties Non-stackable
Suitable for outdoor use (version with basic dark or white powder coated base)
Care For cleaning the plastic elements always use a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Dust and fluff can be vacuumed, marks are best treated with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent.

Professional cleaning should be undertaken with the chair fully assembled and using upholstery foam or with a professional cleaning machine
Awards & Museums Permanent collection, MoMA, New York
Certificates EN 13761 (Office furniture - Visitor chairs)
EN 1728 (Furniture - Seating - Test methods for the determination of strength and durability)
Sustainability The Vitra Eames DSX is:
100% recyclable
contains up to 14% recycled material

Vitra conform to:
ISO 9001: 2008 (Quality management systems)
ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental management systems)

Since the beginning of the production year 2024 the Eames Plastic Chair seat shells have been been manufactured from a recycled material, the so-called RE plastic. RE plastic material consists of granules of recycled plastics from the German “Yellow Sack” packaging recycling system. This new material is not only recycled but 100% recyclable, In addition its production generates significantly lower climate-damaging emissions and requires less energy.

Since June 1st 2019 Vitra has been operated a take-back program: Eames Fibreglass Chairs and Eames Plastic Chairs that are no longer required can be returned to Vitra.
Warranty 24 months

Register product and secure extended manufacturer's warranty of 10 years
Accessories Suitable Seat Pad for Eames Side Chairs and Leather Seat Pads by Parkhaus Berlin or Seat Dots and Soft Seats (Typ B) by Vitra
Product family Eames Plastic Chairs
Product datasheet Please click on the picture for detailed information (ca. 5,4 MB).

Product presentation

Popular versions

Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, White, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Red (poppy red), Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Mustard, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, White, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Coated basic dark
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Ice grey, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Coated basic dark
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Sea blue, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Deep black, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Coated basic dark
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Red (poppy red), Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Coated basic dark
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, White, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Coated white
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Ice grey, With seat upholstery, Ice blue / ivory, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSX, Pale rose, Without upholstery, Without upholstery, Standard version - 43 cm, Chrome-plated

FAQ

?
Should the answers to your questions not be found here, our service team can be contacted Mon-Fri, 9 am - 5 pm via +49 341 2222 88 22.

What does DSX mean?

DSX means Dining Height Side Chair X-Base.

How resilient are the Eames DSX chairs?

The Eames plastic chairs meet the "GS" norm and have been tested to carry a load of 110 kg. For the resilience of a chair however the sitting habits are just a important as the load capacity. Rocking on the back legs, for example, causes a very high load, which may shorten the life span dramatically.

Why was the seat height of the Eames DSX raised?

Since Charles and Ray Eames designed the chairs the average height of the population has grown by around 10 cm. Therefore, in addition to adjusting the height of the Eames Lounge Chair in 2015, Vitra also adapted the Plastic Chairs (DSW/DAW, DSR/DAR, DSX/DAX) to better meet current user needs. The bases of the chairs are consequently now on average 2 cm higher. The change is minimal and accordingly can only be seen in direct comparison.

How is the DSX seat height measured?

The seat height is determined according to the European standard EN 1335-1. This states that the chair be clamped in a special tester and loaded with a weight. The dimensions are then determined in the loaded state. The seat height being measured at a position defined by the standard and when in the load bearing state. The stated seat height cannot be measured with a conventional measuring device, rather is a normalised comparison value so that different chairs (for example, with and without height adjustment, or with varying thickness of seat cushion, etc.) can be compared with one another.

How do I recognise an original Eames DSX Plastic Chair?

On the underside of the seat shell, the material marking PP indicates the polypropylene used for the shell, a seal certifies the safety of the chair and a sticker indicates the place of manufacture and serial number. In addition, Vitra always supplies the original fully assembled.

Why a 2019 colour update for the Eames DSX?

The new colour palette allows for more possible combinations and offers a broader spectrum of different colour shades with the delineation into "Natural Tones", "Mid Tones" and "Bright Tones".

Please click on the picture for detailed information about the New Vitra update Colors 2019 (ca. 2,9 MB)

Design Story

The Design

In 1948 the Museum of Modern Art in New York initiated the "Low Cost Furniture Design" contest; a search for innovative designs which met the demands of the modern American lifestyle through functionality, affordability and flexibility. With his plastic side chairs family Charles Eames was among the winners. After much experimentation with different materials he had developed a one-piece bucket seat made of fibreglass reinforced polyester resin. This combination of shape and material allowed the Eames side chairs and Eames armchairs to be produced in series. The Eames plastic chairs seat shells can be combined with different bases to create chairs suitable for all occasions and situations. The abbreviation of the Eames DSX stands for Dining Height Side Chair with X-Base; i.e. the slim shape of the side chair seat shell is combined with a simple four-legged steel tube base.

Underside of a Vitra DSX

The Vitra Eames DSX as a cafeteria chair (Copyrights: Delphin Design)

Production

The original design from the Vitra DSX and the other Eames plastic chairs was created by Ray and Charles Eames from polyester resin reinforced fibreglass. The advantages of this, at the time revolutionary material, including flexibility and good mouldability. In addition fibreglass is pleasant to touch and allows production of chairs at a more favourable price. Until the mid-1980s, the Eames side chairs and Eames armchairs were produced in this form by Herman Miller in the USA and Vitra in Europe; however, in 1992 environmental concerns about fibreglass forced both companies to cease production. In 1999 production of the Eames plastic chairs was resumed, now however in the new material polypropylene, a material which allows the same flexibility and mouldability - but without the environmental concerns. The Vitra Eames DSX Chair is available in eight different seat colours and two base variants and can optionally be provided with cushioning.

Designer

Today Charles & Ray Eames are principally known for their many pioneering furniture design. Yet their decade-long creative collaboration was not limited to one medium and in addition to the Eames furniture portfolio the pair also developed and realised numerous architecture, graphic, textile, film, photography and textiles projects. The beginning of their collaboration dates back to 1940 when Ray and Charles Eames met at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. In 1938 Charles Eames accepted a teaching position at the Academy, in 1940 Ray Kaiser, who had recently completed her painting studies in New York, arrived at Cranbrook for three month design course.In 1941 Ray Kaiser and Charles Eames married and moved to Los Angeles where in the following years they crated so man projects that would change our perceptions of our modern world. For all with the Eames plastic chairs family, including the Vitra DSX, they created objects true to their motto "The most of the best to the greatest number of people continuing the least,". The Eames Studio in Los Angeles remained in operation until the death of Charles Eames in 1978.

Ray and Charles Eames

The Vitra DSR as an outdoor chair with black frame, 2013

Manufacturer

At the very beginning of the Vitra success story stands the designs of Charles and Ray Eames. During a trip to America in 1953 Vitra owners Erika and Willi Fehlbaum saw an Eames chair in a shop window and were so inspired the couple sought permission from the US manufacturer Herman Miller to produce the designs in Europe. After long negotiations, the Fehlbaums acquired in 1957 the production licenses and in 1959 began with the production of the Eames DSX and the other plastic chairs chairs at their base in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Vitra remains today the only licensed manufacturer of Eames furniture in Europe. But perhaps more importantly the decades of close cooperation with Charles and Ray Eames has significantly influenced the company, so much so that the couples understanding of design has become an integral part of the Vitra corporate company philosophy.

Historical Context

The aim of the "Low Cost Design" contest was to draw attention to those innovative design and manufacturing capabilities which meet the new requirements of the post-war American society. These requirements were determined by the increasing demand for housing, a demand which was accompanied by rising rental prices. Furniture had to be flexible, affordable and capable of being produced en mass. So it should come as no surprise that Charles & Ray Eames plastic chair collection did well in the competition achieving second place. And even less surprised that they subsequently went on to dominate furniture design history. Depending on the choice of the frame the Vitra Eames plastic chairs can be used in the garden, the living room or office environments, a flexibility that made them as perfect for 1950s America as it makes then for our globalised 21st century society.

Eames armchairs in front of the VitraHaus in Weil am Rhein

The Vitra Eames Shell Chairs: An Overview

Eames Plastic Chairs

Vitra Eames DSR
Dining Height Side Chair Rod Base

Vitra Eames DSR

Vitra Eames DSX
Dining Height Side Chair X-Base

Vitra Eames DSX

Vitra Eames DSW
Dining Height Side Chair Wood Base

Vitra Eames DSW

Vitra Eames PSCC
Pivot Side Chair Cast Base on Castors

Vitra Eames PSCC

Vitra Eames DSS-N / DSS
Dining Height Side Chair Stacking Base

Vitra Eames DSS-N / DSS

Vitra Eames DAR
Dining Height Armchair Rod Base

Vitra Eames DAR

Vitra Eames DAX
Dining Height Armchair X-Base

Vitra Eames DAX

Vitra Eames DAW
Dining Height Armchair Wooden Base

Vitra Eames DAW

Vitra Eames PACC
Pivot Armchair Cast Base on Castors

Vitra Eames PACC

Vitra Eames RAR
Rocking Armchair Rod Base

Vitra Eames RAR

Vitra Eames LAR
Lounge Height Armchair Rod Base

Vitra Eames LAR

Vitra Eames DAL
Dining Height Armchair La Fonda Base

Vitra Eames LAR

Eames Fiber Chairs

Vitra DSR Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair Rod Base

Vitra DSR Fiberglass

Vitra DSX Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair X-Base

Vitra DSX Fiberglass

Vitra DSW Fiberglass
Dining Height Side Chair Wood Base

Vitra DSW Fiberglass

Vitra DAR Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair Rod Base

Vitra DAR Fiberglass

Vitra DAX Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair X-Base

Vitra DAX Fiberglass

Vitra DAW Fiberglass
Dining Height Armchair Wooden Base

Vitra DAW Fiberglass

Vitra RAR Fiberglass
Rocking Armchair Rod Base

Vitra RAR Fiberglass

Vitra LAR Fiberglass
Lounge Height Armchair Rod Base

Vitra LAR Fiberglass

Eames Wire Chairs

Vitra DKR Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell R-Wire Base

Vitra Eames DKR Wire Chair

Vitra Eames DKX Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell X-Base

Vitra Eames DKX Wire Chair

Vitra Eames DKW Wire Chair
Dining Height K-Wire Shell Wood Base

Vitra Eames DKW Wire Chair

Vitra Eames DKR Wire Chair Checker
Dining Height K-Wire Shell R-Wire Base

Vitra Eames DKR Wire Chair Checker


More about 'DSX' in our blog

Eames Alchemy. Or how Charles and Ray Eames turned steel into plastic.....

...The Eames plastic side chair shell was released a year later in the complementary DSX, DSW, DSR, PSCC and RSR versions, and the first upholstered plastic chairs appeared in 1953...

DSR, RAR, DAW, ETC... Plastikstole af Charles og Ray Eames

...Tilsvarende kan steltypen hos DSX, PACC eller DAW ligeledes udledes af navnet...

DSR, RAR, DAW, ETC... The plastic chairs of Charles and Ray Eames

...Similarly the form of the DSX, PACC or DAW can be deduced from the name...

All 'DSX' Posts

Accessories

Soft Seats
Seat Dots
Seat Pad for Eames Side Chairs
Leather Seat Pad for Eames Side Chairs

You may also like these articles

Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSR
Eames Plastic Armchair RE DAX
Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSW
Eames Fiberglass Chair DSX