Eames DAT Chair

The Eames DAT Chair’s evolution from a unique office chair design to a precursor of Herman Miller’s iconic Alu Group chairs.

The Eames DAT Chair (Desk Height, Arm Chair on Tilt Base) represents a pivotal moment in the history of office furniture design. Initially introduced in the early 1950s, this chair was part of the Eames' iconic fiberglass chair series. While the Eames team had already revolutionized the design of chairs with molded fiberglass, the DAT chair pushed boundaries further by offering a functional, adjustable, and aesthetically refined seating solution for the modern office. This marked Herman Miller's first serious foray into the desk chair market, paving the way for the company to dominate this sector by the 1970s and 1980s.

The first generation of the Eames DAT Chair featured a unique lateral cross base that was exclusive to this model. It was also the first of its kind to incorporate castors, making it more mobile and adaptable to a variety of office settings. The tilting mechanism of the base was manually controlled via a rubber torque system, allowing the user to adjust the tilt for added comfort and ergonomics. Additionally, the seat height was adjustable through a central thread on the column, making the chair a versatile and customizable option for desk use.

By the mid-1950s, Eames introduced the pedestal base, known as the ‘contract’ base, which became a game-changer for office furniture design. In 1957, this base replaced the original lateral cross base on the DAT and other chairs in the Eames fiberglass series. The new pedestal base offered exceptional stability and versatility, capable of accommodating both castors and glides, which made it ideal for a wide range of office environments. This led to the introduction of the DAT-NC, a version of the chair without castors, but with the same stable contract base. The transition to this base solidified the DAT's place in the evolution of office chair design and foreshadowed the later success of the Alu Group office chairs, which are still manufactured today.

The Eames DAT Chair also saw a wide range of shell colors over its production span, allowing it to blend seamlessly into various office decors. Many of these chairs were upholstered with fabrics designed by Alexander Girard, adding an additional layer of artistic expression to an already functional piece of furniture. As the chair evolved over the decades, it became an enduring symbol of mid-century modern office design, with its clean lines and innovative features still admired by design enthusiasts today.