First-generation Zenith armchair designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This early Greige fiberglass shell has developed an unusually warm tone over decades of use, giving it an appearance that sits somewhere between Greige and Parchment. Dense, irregular fiberglass remains visible throughout the surface, a hallmark of Zenith Plastics' earliest production for Herman Miller. The shell retains its original X-base, while remnants of the Zenith checkerboard label remain visible on the underside, preserving an important detail from one of the earliest chapters of Eames fiberglass production.
Early Greige shells display some of the greatest variation found within the Zenith years. Differences in pigment, resin, and decades of natural aging have produced examples ranging from cool gray to warm sand tones, making each chair distinctly individual. This example captures that variation especially well, pairing its softened color with the richly textured fiberglass and early construction details that define first-generation Eames shells.
Designer: Charles & Ray Eames
Manufacturer: Herman Miller
Model: Zenith Armchair (X-Base)
Period: Early 1950s
Origin: United States
Materials: Fiberglass, steel
Dimensions: 31" H x 25" W x 22" D
Seat Height: 17" H
First-generation Zenith armchair designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This early Greige fiberglass shell has developed an unusually warm tone over decades of use, giving it an appearance that sits somewhere between Greige and Parchment. Dense, irregular fiberglass remains visible throughout the surface, a hallmark of Zenith Plastics' earliest production for Herman Miller. The shell retains its original X-base, while remnants of the Zenith checkerboard label remain visible on the underside, preserving an important detail from one of the earliest chapters of Eames fiberglass production.
Early Greige shells display some of the greatest variation found within the Zenith years. Differences in pigment, resin, and decades of natural aging have produced examples ranging from cool gray to warm sand tones, making each chair distinctly individual. This example captures that variation especially well, pairing its softened color with the richly textured fiberglass and early construction details that define first-generation Eames shells.
Designer: Charles & Ray Eames
Manufacturer: Herman Miller
Model: Zenith Armchair (X-Base)
Period: Early 1950s
Origin: United States
Materials: Fiberglass, steel
Dimensions: 31" H x 25" W x 22" D
Seat Height: 17" H
Image 1 of 11
Image 2 of 11
Image 3 of 11
Image 4 of 11
Image 5 of 11
Image 6 of 11
Image 7 of 11
Image 8 of 11
Image 9 of 11
Image 10 of 11
Image 11 of 11