650 Dining Table

This dining table was the Eameses’ first mass-market table design that did not utilize plywood. It is surfaced with a white plastic laminate, edged with dark grey vinyl, and stands on a cast aluminum base—the first such base the Eameses introduced to the market. Like later similar versions, the base consists of three parts: a spider-shaped cast aluminum element that attaches underneath the tabletop, a rolled steel column, and a five-pronged cast aluminum foot. The sides of each prong are painted with a durable white enamel (it was also available in black), while their tops are left uncoated with the polished aluminum visible. Pedestal bases were favored by the Eameses—and other designers—in part because they provided users with more leg room. Pedestals were also an ideal solution to two of the Eameses’ chief design concerns: minimizing materials and dispelling unnecessary attention from a room’s furniture. This table was only in production for four years, but it lay the groundwork for other long-lasting designs. The 650’s base is roughly identical to those used in both the Stephens Trusonic Loudspeaker as well as the Eames Lounge Chair (model 670)—which remains one of the most iconic Eames furniture designs.