Our Eames high back mesh office chair in white is a Sederica reproduction of the EA119 management chair. One taut panel of white mesh is stretched between polished chrome aluminium side rails. There is no foam and no cushion inside.
The mesh itself carries your weight. It gives slightly as you sit down and settles back when you stand. The tall back reaches up to your shoulders, and in white the whole chair looks far lighter than its 13 kg.
White High Back Mesh and Polished Aluminium: How Our Chair Is Built
The seat and backrest are one continuous run of breathable white mesh. It wraps around two side rails, and the tension between them forms a shallow sitting pocket that shapes itself to your body. Air passes straight through the weave, so heat doesn’t build up behind your back the way it can on leather or foam.
The arms and spine are polished chrome aluminium, finished to match the five-star base. Under the seat is a compact black mechanism that controls height and tilt. The castors are black with chrome hoods and roll smoothly when you push back from the desk.
What we left off matters as much as what we put on. There is no lumbar pad, no bolted-on headrest and no plastic trim on the arms. From the side, you see only mesh and metal.
Why the EA119 Chair Started Life as a Mesh Chair
Most people picture this design in black leather, but it began with a woven seat. In 1957, the interior designer Alexander Girard was furnishing the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana, with architect Eero Saarinen. He couldn’t find outdoor furniture good enough for the house, so he took the problem to Charles and Ray Eames.
Their answer, launched in 1958, was a cast aluminium frame holding a sling of weatherproof Saran mesh. During development they called it the indoor-outdoor group. That first mesh proved too weak for outdoor life, and leather became the best-known version. The EA119 is the high-back member of this family.
The core idea never changed: a stretched panel does the work that foam does in other chairs. A Charles Eames mesh office chair isn’t a modern twist on the design, because mesh is where it began. You can read more about the pair on our Charles and Ray Eames designer page, and the Eames Institute has a detailed history of the collection.
Eames White Mesh Office Chair: Why Choose White
White changes how the chair sits in a room. The mesh lets light and wall colour show through, so against a pale wall the back almost fades away and only the chrome outline stays. That’s why we suggest white for small studies, bedroom desk corners and Scandi-style rooms with oak, ash or birch furniture.
White also works in shared spaces: reception desks, design studios and meeting rooms with glass or white tables. Beside a light desk, it looks like a planned choice rather than an afterthought.
White does need more care, though. It shows marks at the front edge of the seat and where your hands rest on the frame, and new dark denim can leave a blue tint. If your chair will see jeans every day with little cleaning, our black mesh version is the lower-effort choice.
Who Our Eames High Back Office Chair Suits
This chair suits people who run warm and want to lean back and have their shoulders supported. It also suits anyone who wants an ergonomic tall back without a bulky executive outline. It fits home offices, studios and meeting rooms where several chairs need to match.
It isn’t the right chair for every body or every job. The armrests are fixed, the back has no separate lumbar adjustment and there is no headrest. If you need those settings, a fully adjustable task chair will serve you better.
If you’d rather have padding than mesh, our white EA119 ribbed thin pad chair keeps the same high-back frame with leather-covered ribs. Before ordering either chair, measure the clearance under your desk. Fixed arms decide whether the chair slides fully underneath, so compare that measurement with the arm height in our size table.
EA119 Chair Compared With Our Other White Office Chairs
| EA119 High Back Mesh (this chair) | EA117 Mesh, White | EA119 Ribbed Thin Pad, White | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back height | High, to shoulder level | Low, ends below the shoulders | High, to shoulder level |
| Seat and back | Load-bearing white mesh | Load-bearing white mesh | Padded, leather-covered ribs |
| Feel | Airy, with slight give | Airy, smaller outline | Firmer and cushioned |
| Temperature | Stays cool | Stays cool | Warmer than mesh |
| Best for | Long desk days, leaning back | Shorter sessions, meeting tables | People who prefer padding |
You can see every model side by side in our Eames style office chairs collection.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sederica |
| Model | EA119 style high back mesh office chair |
| Design inspiration | Aluminium Group, Charles and Ray Eames, 1958 |
| Colour | White mesh, polished chrome frame |
| Seat and back | Breathable white mesh, load-bearing, no foam |
| Arms and spine | Polished chrome aluminium |
| Base | Five-star chrome aluminium with castors |
| Adjustments | Height, tilt, 360° swivel |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 59 × 67 × 106–117 cm |
| Height travel | 11 cm |
| Net weight | 13 kg |
| Assembly | Minor, instructions enclosed |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Caring for Your Eames Office Chair in White Mesh
Every week or two, run a vacuum brush attachment over the mesh to lift dust before it settles into the weave. For marks, dab with a microfibre cloth dampened in lukewarm water and a drop of mild soap, then blot dry. Rubbing pushes dirt deeper, so press rather than scrub.
Test any cleaner on the underside of the seat first. Keep bleach and solvents away from both the mesh and the chrome. Strong direct sun can dull white fabric over the years, so avoid parking the chair against a sunny window all day.
Wipe the aluminium with a dry soft cloth to remove fingerprints. Every few months, tip the chair over and clear hair and threads from the castor wheels. After the first few weeks of use, check the base and arm fixings and tighten any that have settled.
Sederica is an independent furniture brand. This chair is an Eames-style reproduction inspired by the work of Charles and Ray Eames, and it is not produced or endorsed by the design’s rights holders. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a mesh office chair comfortable without a cushion?
Yes, for most people. The mesh is held under tension, so it spreads your weight across the whole seat instead of pressing into foam. The feel is firmer and springier than a padded chair, and it doesn’t trap heat. If you like to sink into your chair, the padded EA119 ribbed version will feel more familiar.
What is the difference between the EA119 chair and the EA117?
The main difference is back height. Our EA119 chair has a high back that supports your shoulders and upper back, while the EA117 stops below shoulder level. Both use the same load-bearing mesh and polished aluminium construction. We suggest the EA119 for long desk days and the EA117 for meeting tables or shorter sessions.
Will the white mesh get dirty or discoloured?
It shows marks sooner than black, mainly at the front edge of the seat and wherever dark denim rubs. A weekly vacuum with a brush attachment and prompt spot cleaning with mild soap keep it bright. Avoid bleach, which can yellow synthetic fibres. If low maintenance matters more than a light look, choose the black mesh version.
Will this white mesh high back office chair fit under my desk?
It depends on your desk’s clearance and the chair’s arm height. The chair measures 106–117 cm tall overall, with 11 cm of height travel. Because the armrests are fixed, measure from the floor to the underside of your desk. Then compare that figure with the arm height in our size table before ordering.
Who makes this Eames-style chair?
Sederica makes it as an Eames-style reproduction of the EA119 management chair, inspired by Charles and Ray Eames’ 1958 aluminium group. It’s our take on an Eames replica mesh executive office chair, built with white mesh and polished chrome aluminium. It isn’t produced or endorsed by the design’s rights holders, and our Legal Disclaimer sets out the terms.
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