Black Eiffel dining chairs give a dining table a clear, graphic outline, and this set of four seats a whole table from a single order. Each chair pairs a black injection-moulded ABS shell with solid beech dowel legs and a wire cross-brace, following the side chair Charles and Ray Eames brought out in 1950. At Sederica we sell it openly as a replica, made for daily meals rather than for display.
What This Replica Eames DSW Eiffel Chair Is Made Of
The shell is injection-moulded ABS, a rigid plastic formed in one piece. There are no seams or joints in the seat, so crumbs have nowhere to collect and a damp cloth is enough to clean it. The finish is UV-stable, so a chair placed near a sunny window keeps its black rather than fading to a dull grey.
Underneath, four solid beech dowel legs are joined by a black wire cross-brace. The brace stops the legs from splaying under load and gives the base its lattice pattern. Beech is a dense, close-grained hardwood used for chair legs across Europe, and its pale tone keeps the base looking light beneath the dark seat.
The seat is armless, with a curved back that follows your spine and a front edge that rolls gently downwards. That shape lets you shift position over a long dinner without a hard edge pressing behind your knees. Without arms, the chairs also slide closer to the table edge than armchairs can.
Where the Eames DSW Dining Chair Came From
In 1948 the Museum of Modern Art in New York ran its International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design, which looked for affordable furniture for smaller post-war homes. Charles and Ray Eames, working with engineers from UCLA, shared second prize in the seating category. Their moulded shell chairs went into production in 1950.
The name is a simple code: D for dining height, S for side chair, W for wood base. Shops often call it an Eiffel chair because the wire bracing recalls the ironwork of the Paris tower, although that nickname first belonged to the all-metal wire base. The first shells were fibreglass-reinforced plastic, while ours use ABS, which suits a chair that gets wiped down every day. Read more on our Charles and Ray Eames designer page.
Why Choose an Eames Black Dining Chair Set
Black gives the strongest contrast with natural beech, so the Eiffel base stands out clearly from across the room. Around a pale oak or white table, the four chairs become the frame of the room. Beside a dark walnut or black table, the shells blend in and the legs carry the look instead.
In homes where children eat at the table, a black seat hides felt-tip, beetroot and coffee rings far better than white. The trade-off is dust and fine surface scuffs, which are easier to see on black, especially under a pendant light. A quick wipe with a dry cloth deals with both.
Buying all four in one order means the shells and legs arrive matched in tone. If you only need a pair for a small table or a desk, the same chair in a set of two is also available.
Will a Set of Four Fit Your Dining Table?
Each chair measures 53 cm wide, 46 cm deep and 80 cm high, with a 45 cm seat. Allow about 60 cm of table edge per person so elbows and plates have room. That fits two chairs along each side of a 120 cm rectangular table, or four around a round table of roughly 100 to 110 cm.
Most dining tables are 73 to 76 cm high, which leaves 28 to 31 cm between seat and tabletop. That is a comfortable gap for most adults. If your table has a deep apron (the frame under the top), measure from the floor to its underside to check there is room for your legs.
Leave around 80 cm behind each chair so people can push back and stand up without knocking a wall or sideboard.
| Feature | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Chair Width | 53 cm |
| Chair Depth | 46 cm |
| Seat Height | 45 cm |
How to Clean and Care for the Chairs
Wipe the shell with a soft cloth, warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid, then dry it. On black, a final pass with a dry microfibre cloth removes streaks. Avoid scouring pads, acetone and solvent cleaners, which can dull or mark ABS.
Dry the beech legs if they get wet, and don’t leave them standing in water after mopping the floor. Check the seat screws a few weeks after assembly and tighten them if needed, because new joints settle with use. Felt pads under the leg ends add protection on parquet and tiled floors.
Who These Chairs Suit
This set works well for households that eat at the table every day and want seats that wipe clean in seconds. It also suits flats and smaller dining areas, since the open base keeps four chairs from looking bulky. A single chair makes a good desk seat too, as the 45 cm seat height matches a standard desk.
It may not be the right choice in a few cases. The shell has no padding, so if you sit for hours at a time you may want a seat pad. The wooden base doesn’t stack, and the chairs are meant for indoor use only. At 45 cm, the seat is also too low for a kitchen island or breakfast bar.
How It Compares With Other Chairs in Our Range
If you want arms to rest on, the DAW armchair uses a similar shell with built-in armrests, though it needs more clearance under the table. For a padded seat, our retro faux leather Eiffel chair with walnut legs offers a softer sit in a single-chair format. For a rounder, more sculptural outline, browse our Tulip chair replicas. You can compare every option in our Eames-style dining chair collection or go straight to the DSW replicas.
Why Buy From Sederica
We ship from our EU warehouse, so there are no customs charges inside the EU and VAT is already included. Every order comes with a 2-year warranty and 14-day free returns, and the full details are in the tabs on this page.
This chair is a Sederica replica inspired by the Eames design. It is not made by, endorsed by or connected with any company that holds rights to that design. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dining table do four of these chairs need?
A 120 cm rectangular table, or a round table of about 100 to 110 cm, seats four comfortably. Each chair is 53 cm wide, and allowing roughly 60 cm per person leaves space for elbows and place settings. On a longer table, you can place two chairs on each side and keep the ends free for serving dishes.
Should I buy this set of four or two sets of two?
If you need four chairs, the set of four is the simpler choice. Everything arrives in one order, so all four shells and bases match. The set of two suits a small table, a desk, or adding black chairs to a table you already have.
Will marks and scratches show on the black shell?
Food and drink stains are much harder to spot on black than on light colours. Dust and very fine scuffs are more visible, particularly on the seat under direct light. The UV-stable finish keeps the colour even over time. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which can leave a dull patch on the surface.
Can I stack these black Eiffel dining chairs or use them outdoors?
No to both. The beech legs and wire brace do not nest together, so store the chairs side by side or leave them at the table. The ABS shell copes well with sunlight through a window, but solid beech is not suited to rain, frost or damp garden air.
Is this an Eames chair?
It is a replica Eames DSW Eiffel chair, designed and sold by Sederica and inspired by the 1950 side chair by Charles and Ray Eames. We use the word replica on every product page so there is no confusion about what you are buying. Our Legal Disclaimer sets out the full terms.
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