Charles & Ray Eames, 1948 Charles and Ray Eames designed La Chaise in 1948 for a competition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, inspired by "Floating Figure", a sculpture by Gaston Lachaise. It is the unbelievable elegance of this assertive seating sculpture that enables any number of sitting and reclining positions, which is so very appealing. It has long since established itself as an icon of Organic Design. Materials: two bonded fibreglass shells, chromed rod base with natural oak cruciform foot.