Cabinet Units (Entry Panel for MoMA Competition for Organic Design in Home Furnishings)
Charles Eames
American, 1907–1978
Eero Saarinen
American, born Finland. 1910–1961
1940
A pencil-and-airbrush design drawing in which Charles Eames presents a system of modular cabinet units and a low table, showing both rendered elevations and exact construction so the pieces could be practically produced.
What hits you first is the calm order of the sheet — small, softly airbrushed colored elevations across the top set above crisp, measured pencil plans and full‑size construction details, all organized like an architect’s blueprint with the stenciled code “B3501.”
Made for MoMA’s Organic Design competition, this work illustrates the Eameses’ effort to marry elegant, modern aesthetics with rational, standardizable construction and thus helped point the way toward affordable, mass‑produced mid‑century furniture.
Medium
Pencil and airbrush on board
Dimensions
30 x 20" (76.2 x 50.8 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of the designers
Accession
868.1942
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
