Eames LCW Chair Replica – Moulded Plywood Lounge Chairs

Choosing an Eames Plywood Chair Finish

The wood tone decides how much the chair stands out. A finish close to your floor colour lets the chair blend in, while a contrasting one makes it the first thing people notice. Wood colours look different on every screen, so compare the product photos with your floor in daylight before you decide.

Finish	Tone and grain	Rooms it suits	Shop
Walnut	Warm mid to dark brown, grain clearly visible	Oak or dark wood floors, cream or green walls, leather and wool	LCW in walnut
Ash	Pale blond with an open grain	White walls, pale oak or birch floors, small or north-facing rooms	LCW in light ash
Rosewood	Deep reddish brown with darker stripes	Rooms with darker wood, brass or deep wall colours, as a single feature chair	rosewood LCW
Black stained	Black, with the wood grain still showing	Monochrome rooms, concrete, black metal, strong contrast on pale floors	black stained LCW

How an Eames Plywood Lounge Chair Sits

The Eames LCW lounge chair is a low chair. Its seat is around 40 cm from the floor, lower than a dining chair, and the back tilts away from you so you lean back rather than sit upright. It is a chair for reading, talking or a coffee, not for working at a table.

There is no upholstery. The plywood is shaped to follow your back and thighs, and the chair is made to be used without a cushion; add a thin seat pad if you prefer something softer. Each chair is about 56 cm wide and 70 cm high, and the full measurements are on every chair’s page.

Want deep leather cushions, a swivel and a footstool? That is the 1956 leather Eames lounge chair, a different chair altogether. See our Eames lounge chair replicas with ottoman.

Why the Eames Bent Plywood Lounge Chair Gives a Little

Moulded plywood is made from thin layers of wood laid with the grain crossing, then glued and pressed into a curve. The crossing layers keep a thin part stiff, and the pressing lets it hold a shape that solid timber cannot. That is why an Eames moulded plywood chair can be light and still carry an adult with ease.

The seat and back are not screwed straight onto the frame. They sit on rubber shock mounts fixed to the curved spine and the leg frames, and the rubber lets them move slightly as you shift your weight. That small movement is the gentle spring you feel when you first sit down.

Charles and Ray Eames Plywood Chair History

Charles and Ray Eames learned to mould plywood into compound curves during the Second World War, making leg splints for the US Navy. The Charles Eames LCW chair followed in 1945–46, was first made by the plywood division of Evans Products in California, and was shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1946. You can see an early example in the V&A collection, or read the full story in our Eames LCW chair history.

Why Buy Your Eames LCW Chair Replica from Sederica

We sell one LCW design in four finishes, with the same frame, size and rubber mounts in each. Buying an Eames plywood chair replica here means choosing a wood, not comparing four different chairs. Each product page lists what the chair is made of, and we call our chairs replicas because that is what they are.

Wondering where European law stands on design replicas? Our article Are Eames replicas legal in Europe? explains it in plain terms. For questions about a finish or a measurement, email hello@sederica.com and our team replies within 24–48 hours (CET).

Eames LCW Chair Questions

What does LCW stand for?

LCW stands for Lounge Chair Wood: a lounge-height chair on a wooden base. The Eameses gave their plywood chairs letter codes, so DCW is Dining Chair Wood and LCM is a lounge chair on a metal base. In the US the LCW is also sold as the Eames molded plywood lounge chair, and older listings often call the whole family the Eames molded plywood chair.

Can I mix finishes in the same room?

Yes, as long as the mix looks deliberate. Two chairs in different finishes work best when each wood tone appears somewhere else in the room, such as walnut in a sideboard or black in a lamp base. Ash next to black gives the strongest contrast, while walnut next to rosewood is subtler because both are warm browns.

Why is the LCW called the “potato chip chair”?

The thin, curved seat and back look a little like potato crisps, which is where the American nickname comes from. You will see it listed as the Eames potato chip chair in vintage shops and at auction. The name describes the shape only; it is the same LCW.

Eames LCW vs DCW: what is the difference?

Both come from the same Eames plywood family. The DCW (Dining Chair Wood) has a taller seat at dining height, roughly 45 cm, and a more upright back for sitting at a table. The LCW is lower and leans back for relaxing. We sell the LCW; for table seating, see our Eames style dining chairs.

How strong is moulded plywood for everyday use?

Moulded plywood is strong for its weight, because the glued layers run in crossing directions and the curves stiffen each part. Daily sitting is exactly what the chair is made for.

To keep it that way, sit in the seat rather than on the top of the back, and do not tip the chair onto its back legs. Keep it away from radiators and strong direct sun, which can dry and fade veneer. If a part ever feels loose, check the screws at the shock mounts, and contact us if you need a load figure for a specific use.

Find Your LCW

Choose the finish that suits your floor, then open its page for photos and full measurements. All four chairs are also in our designer chair sale, and our designer furniture range has pieces to sit beside your Eames moulded plywood lounge chair.

Our Eames style plywood chairs are reproductions inspired by the work of Charles and Ray Eames, made and sold independently by Sederica. See our Legal Disclaimer for terms.