The Eames Plastic Chairs were launched in 1950 as the first-ever industrially produced plastic chairs. The curved organic shells, which rested on a minimalist metal base, represented a carefree, free-floating type of seating never seen before – in striking contrast to the heavy upholstered furniture found in most homes of that era. In many ways Charles and Ray Eames were ahead of their time, surrounding themselves with friends who shared their visionary perspective. One of these cohorts was the American cartoonist Saul Steinberg, who was especially known for crossing borders into uncharted visual territories.