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.