Woodard Wrought Iron Tea or Bar Cart, 1950s
View Similar Items
Woodard Wrought Iron Tea or Bar Cart, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Russell Woodard (Designer),Woodard Furniture Co. (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 27.75 in (70.49 cm)Width: 40.25 in (102.24 cm)Depth: 20.25 in (51.44 cm)Seat Height: 27.75 in (70.49 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Replacements made: New wheels and newly powder coated. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Hamburg, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 90621stDibs: LU926924144072
Russell Woodard
Woodard Furniture Company’s diverse offerings have included everything from pine caskets to premium patio and garden furniture over the years.
Lyman E. Woodward founded the family business Woodard Brothers (he dropped the second w for his venture’s name), later Woodard Furniture Co., in Owosso, Michigan, in 1866. Woodard Furniture produced wood furniture such as birch and oak bedroom pieces, window and door blinds and even pine caskets. Demand for the latter increased during the spread of the Spanish flu in America, and Woodard’s casket business — a new company called Owosso Casket Company — thrived, becoming the largest casket manufacturer in the world throughout the 1920s. Two U.S. presidents, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison, were buried in Owosso caskets.
On the furniture side, Lyman’s son Lee Woodard spun off his own business as Lee L. Woodard and Sons, opening a shop with his sons, Joseph, Lyman II and Russell Woodard. During the 1930s, the new company explored the use of metal in furniture-making and introduced a wrought-iron set of patio dining furniture featuring ornate grillwork inspired by French design called Orleans in 1940. The line became a best seller and kick-started the company’s international reputation as a patio-furniture maker, even as the Woodard factory subsequently shifted toward supporting the wartime efforts in manufacturing parts for trucks and military equipment. After World War II, the business returned to making furniture. Over the years, Woodard and Sons would go on to master metallurgy in furniture making, developing expertise in wrought iron, cast aluminum and tubular aluminum for both indoor and outdoor pieces. In colder regions, wrought iron, which can be left outdoors all year round, was the material of choice in outdoor furniture designs for the Atomic Age, and vintage Woodard outdoor furniture is widely coveted by collectors today.
While the business started with more traditional styles of furnishings, the company would go on to embrace mid-century modernism. In fact, one of Woodard’s most famous pieces is 1956’s Sculptura chair, variously credited over the years to Russell and/or Joseph. The Sculptura was reportedly the first sculpted chair made without molds. Not unlike Harry Bertoia’s elegant steel-wire Side chair (also a mid-century darling) in its undulating form, the Sculptura chair, which is composed entirely of enameled woven wrought-iron wire, bears similarity to Eero Saarinen’s Womb chair for Knoll and Charles and Ray Eames’s DAX chair. The beloved Woodard chair was added to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection in 1994.
While the Woodard business is no longer in family hands, the company continues to produce fine patio furniture today and even reintroduced the Sculptura chair in 2015 as nostalgia for mid-century modernism gained steam again.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Russell Woodard lounge chairs, dining chairs and patio furniture today.
Woodard Furniture Co.
Woodard Furniture Company’s diverse offerings have included everything from pine caskets to premium patio furniture over the years.
Lyman E. Woodward founded the family business Woodard Brothers (he dropped the second w for his venture’s name), later Woodard Furniture Co., in Owosso, Michigan, in 1866.
Woodard Furniture produced wood furniture such as birch and oak bedroom pieces, window and door blinds and even pine caskets. Demand for the latter increased during the spread of the Spanish flu in America, and Woodard’s casket business — a new company called Owosso Casket Company — thrived, becoming the largest casket manufacturer in the world throughout the 1920s. Two U.S. presidents, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison, were buried in Owosso caskets.
On the furniture side, Lyman’s son Lee Woodard spun off his own business as Lee L. Woodard and Sons, opening a shop with his sons, Joseph, Lyman II and Russell Woodard.
During the 1930s, the new company explored the use of metal in furniture-making and introduced a wrought-iron set of patio dining furniture featuring ornate grillwork inspired by French design called Orleans in 1940. The line became a best seller and kick-started the company’s international reputation as a patio-furniture maker, even as the Woodard factory subsequently shifted toward supporting the wartime efforts in manufacturing parts for trucks and military equipment. After World War II, the business returned to making furniture.
Over the years, Woodard and Sons would go on to master metallurgy in furniture making, developing expertise in wrought iron, cast aluminum and tubular aluminum for both indoor and outdoor pieces. While the business started with more traditional styles of furnishings, the company would go on to embrace mid-century modernism. In fact, one of Woodard’s most famous pieces is 1956’s Sculptura chair, variously credited over the years to Russell and/or Joseph.
The Sculptura was reportedly the first sculpted chair made without molds. Not unlike Harry Bertoia’s elegant steel-wire Side chair (also a mid-century darling) in its undulating form, the Sculptura chair, which is composed entirely of enameled woven wrought-iron wire, bears similarity to Eero Saarinen’s Womb chair and Charles and Ray Eames’s DAX chair.
The beloved Sculptura chair was added to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection in 1994.
While the Woodard business is no longer in family hands, the company continues to produce fine patio furniture today and even reintroduced the Sculptura chair in 2015 as nostalgia for mid-century modernism gained steam again.
Find vintage Woodard wrought-iron patio chairs, spun fiberglass dining tables and more for sale on 1stDibs.
- Set of Six Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Outdoor Dining Chairs in ChestnutBy Richard Schultz, KnollLocated in Hamburg, PAA functional and stylish set of six modern outdoor dining chairs designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll. These vintage dining chairs have a chestnut aluminum frame with mesh and leath...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Dining Table in ChestnutBy Knoll, Richard SchultzLocated in Hamburg, PAA functional and modern outdoor dining table designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll. This vintage dining table has a white aluminum base wit...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Designer "Topiary" Table Base by Richard Schultz for Knoll, 1996By Knoll, Richard SchultzLocated in Hamburg, PAA whimsical "Topiary" collection dining table designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll. This collection was produced in 1996 and is a fun design for any garden or patio. This dining table is made by a technique that involves bending, stamping, and folding sheets of aluminum. The "Topiary" table base is fitted with wheels for easy transportation. The dining table is powder-coated in a lovely mint green color. The table is structurally sound and in very good condition. Glass is not included. Two tables are available. "Topiary" collection dining chairs are available in another listing. Special note: The pair of topiary...Category
1990s American Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Knoll Limited Edition 'Topiary Cushion Lounge Chairs' and Side Table, 1997By Knoll, Richard SchultzLocated in Hamburg, PAA fabulous set of Knoll "Topiary" garden chairs and side table. Designed by Richard Schultz. This set is no longer in production but is still in the personal collection of Richard Sc...Category
1990s American Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Polia Pillin California Studio Pottery Dish, 1950sBy Polia PillinLocated in Hamburg, PAA large ceramic dish, plate or bowl decorated with a woman playing the flute with a horse in the background. Handmade by the artist Polia Pillin of Los Angeles, California. Signed "P...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
MaterialsCeramic
- Rosewood Thin Edge Bookshelf by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1950sBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Hamburg, PAA beautiful rare and hard-to-find Rosewood Thin Edge bookcase by George Nelson for Herman Miller. The Thin Edge bookcase would look great in any Mid-Century Modern or Contemporary ho...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsRosewood
- Woodard Chantilly Rose White Wrought Iron Tea or Bar CartBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Stamford, CTThis is a Classic Woodard Chantilly Rose wrought iron tea cart or bar cart, well made and fine quality. Wood, a great American company, furnished th...Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Russell Woodard Wrought Iron Bar Tea Serving Cart Mid Century ModernBy Russell WoodardLocated in Wayne, NJVintage Russell Woodard Sculptura wrought iron Bar Tea Service Cart . If you are in the New Jersey, New York City Metro Area, please contact us with your delivery zipcode, as we may...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
$920 Sale Price20% Off - Rare 1950s Woodard Wrought Iron & Mesh Dining Patio Table 4 Chairs Ball FinialsBy Salterini, Woodard Furniture Co., Russell WoodardLocated in St. Louis, MOClassic and Rare 1950s mid century Palm Beach Style, outdoor wrought iron & mesh patio / garden set with four dining chairs and round table by Woodard Furniture Co. From the Carolina Forge...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum, Wrought Iron
- Wicker and Iron Bar Cart or Tea Trolley Table, German, 1950sLocated in Nuernberg, DEStriking mid-20th century bar trolley in metal with hand-woven wood and wicker fittings. Wood and wicker drink tray on top and on the bottom. Also included a bottle basket carrier an...Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
MaterialsMetal
- Mid-Century Bamboo Bar Serving Tea Cart with Removable Serving Tray, 1950/1960sBy Ficks ReedLocated in New York, NYChic voguish bar, tea, serving cart having a bamboo frame, with a bamboo and laminate faux wood removable tray top, and laminate lower shelf. Nice generous proportions make this exam...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsBamboo, Wood
- Woodard Chantilly Rose Wrought Iron Dining TableBy Woodard Furniture Co., Russell WoodardLocated in Stamford, CTThis is the classic vintage Woodard Chantilly Rose wrought iron round dining table with a new custom cut quarter inch thick round g...Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron