See more objects with the tag interior, decoration, home, seating, curved, line, elegant, movement, recycling.

Object Timeline

-0001

1938

  • Work on this object began.

1960

  • Work on this object ended.

1986

  • We acquired this object.

1999

2015

2018

2020

2025

  • You found it!

RAR Rocking Chair

This is a Rocking chair. It was designed by Ray Kaiser Eames and Charles Eames and manufactured by Herman Miller Furniture Company. It is dated ca. 1948–50 and we acquired it in 1986. Its medium is molded fiberglass-reinforced polyester, bent metal rods, wood, rubber. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Because the use of fiberglass for furnishings was so novel, the Eames’s Rocking Arm Chair was originally released only in three colors—gray, parchment, and “greige” (gray-beige)—designed to coordinate with many interiors. But the chair was eventually available to consumers in a much larger palette of colors.

This object was donated by Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor. It is credited Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.

  • Vermelha Chair
  • bent epoxy-coated steel, hand woven dyed cotton rope, aluminum.
  • Gift of Edra SpA, Italy.
  • 2007-39-1
  • Chair
  • molded and spliced plywood, turned and veneered honduran mahogany, foam....
  • Gift of George R. Kravis II.
  • 2018-22-81

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • 4860 Side Chair
  • injection-molded abs plastic, rubber.
  • Gift of Dr. Herbert Appel.
  • 1986-115-1
  • Lounge Chair (Denmark)
  • teak and wicker.
  • Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Fund.
  • 1990-141-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 69.5 x 62 x 66 cm (27 3/8 x 24 7/16 x 26 in.)

Cite this object as

RAR Rocking Chair; Designed by Charles Eames (American, 1907–1978), Ray Kaiser Eames (American, 1912–1988); Manufactured by Herman Miller Furniture Company (United States); USA; molded fiberglass-reinforced polyester, bent metal rods, wood, rubber; H x W x D: 69.5 x 62 x 66 cm (27 3/8 x 24 7/16 x 26 in.); Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor; 1986-99-46

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

The Conservation department has taken one photo of this object.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18621883/ |title=RAR Rocking Chair |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>