- Title: Eames Molded Plywood Sculpture - Material: Sapeli Plywood, Palisander Veneer - Manufacturer: Eames Office - Year of Design/Year of Production : The original sculptures were designed and created in 1943. The limited edition version was produced to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Eames Office in 2021. - Availability: This is a limited edition release of twelve sculptures. (Sculptures are identical in form however each has it's own distinct characteristics due to the strong grains in the Palissander wood) - Description: The limited-edition sculpture is a re-creation of the original 1943 Plywood Sculpture created by Charles and Ray Eames. It's characterized by its elegant, three-dimensional curves and delicate changes in thickness. Only two of the original sculptures were made, one of which is now in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum. The limited-edition model is based on the second sculpture, which the Eameses kept for themselves and is now in a private museum collection. The legs of the two original sculptures are slightly different, giving each a unique feel. - Context: The Plywood Sculpture represents a significant moment in the Eameses' careers. It emerged from their experimental work with molded plywood, which began in their apartment using a homemade device called the Kazam! machine. This machine was a plaster mold with electric coils that the couple used to press thin sheets of wood veneer together. Their early experiments with molded plywood were an attempt to solve the challenge of creating a single-piece, organically shaped chair that could be mass-produced, a problem that even large furniture manufacturers hadn't been able to solve. This project, which united art and technology, was a direct result of their work on the U.S. Navy leg splints in 1942. The Plywood Sculpture allowed them to master compound curves, a breakthrough that led to some of their most iconic furniture designs. The sculpture embodies the multidisciplinary partnership of Charles and Ray, with Charles's quick, loopy handwriting on the sketches and Ray's neat, artistic script. Ray Eames, a trained artist, saw their work in design as an extension of her painting, stating, "I never gave up painting, I just changed my palette." - Eames Office certificate