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Leg Splint

A splint made from varnished plywood molded to fit the contours of a leg, with five pairs of symmetrical voids in varied sizes.

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  • A splint made from varnished plywood molded to fit the contours of a leg, with five pairs of symmetrical voids in varied sizes.

Date:

c. 1942

Artist:

Charles Eames (American, 1907–1978)
Ray Eames (American, 1912–1988)
Made by Evans Products Company
Grand Haven, Michigan, 20th century

About this artwork

During World War II Charles and Ray Eames designed this lightweight and inexpensive splint for the U.S. Navy. Due to the functional design and sturdy lightweight construction, these leg splints were ideal for transport to the field for injured soldiers. When commissioned to develop these splints, the Eames had already been experimenting with molded plywood technology for projects in their studio. With access to military technology and manufacturing facilities, the designers were able to further develop and refine the process in order to create their first mass-produced product. By 1945 150,000 of these iconic leg splints had been produced. The leg splint is a precursor for much of the Eameses’ later work, in which they utilized similar technology to develop sculptural molded plywood furniture.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Architecture and Design

Artists

Charles Eames (Designer) , Ray Eames (Designer) , Evans Products Company (Manufacturer)

Title

Leg Splint

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date

1937-1947

Medium

Molded plywood

Dimensions

106.7 × 19.7 × 10.8 cm (42 × 7 3/4 × 4 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Ken and Sara Isaacs

Reference Number

2008.696

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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