history of rocking chairs- modern (2)

l: prototype rocker, 1948
by charles and ray eames
r:  'rapid rocker'
by ralph rapson

CHARLES AND RAY EAMES
ca 1950, usa

in the early 1940's the eames, charles (1907-1978)
and ray (1912-1989), had the chance
to experiment with new methods of bending plywood
in the work they did for the navy wartime effort.
they applied these techniques to their furniture design.

their chairs were designed for herman miller in four materials:
molded plywood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, bent and
welded wire mesh, and cast aluminum.
the conceptual backbone of these diverse works was the search
for seat and back forms that comfortably support the human
body, using three dimensionally shaped surfaces or flexible
materials instead of cushioned upholstery.
the chairs were attached to 6 different bases like the
'eiffel tower,' standard legs, or rocker legs .


RALPH RAPSON (1914)
ca. 1951, usa

the architect ralph rapson is best known for his experimental
fabric house and the tyrone guthrie theater,
the us embassy buildings in stockholm and copenhagen.
in addition to his architectural career he has been a furniture
designer and a design-oriented merchant.
in 1945, he helped knoll launch their 'equipment for living'
series of furniture and knoll produced the rapson line
which included his 'rapid rocker.'