An animal from material experiments
Charles and Ray Eames designed the elephant in 1945 as part of a group of animals for children. Their experiments explored moulding plywood into compound curves. A cardboard study preceded two birch prototypes, which were shown at the Museum of Modern Art in 1946.
Prototype and later production
The elephant did not enter mass production during their lifetimes. Vitra produced a limited plywood edition in 2007 and subsequently introduced a plastic version. The design’s history therefore includes both early material exploration and much later manufactured interpretations.
What to compare
Compare the prototypes with a later edition, keeping material and intended use in view. Ask how a recognizable animal is assembled from curved parts and how the scale relates to a child. The elephant is useful for studying the overlap between a toy, a seat and a sculptural object, while its production history prevents the prototype from being mistaken for an immediately available consumer product.