Larger Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass "Peacock" Chair in Off White, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Russell Woodard (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 45 in (114.3 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)Depth: 22 in (55.88 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Fiberglass,Enameled
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Original condition and without breaks or damage.
- Seller Location:Bainbridge, NY
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Bainbridge, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass Beige "Peacock" Cafe Set for Four, 1950sBy Russell WoodardLocated in Bainbridge, NYRussell Woodard Tan toned Geometric Spun Fiberglass Cafe Set of 4. Featuring sturdy, balanced, woven Light Khaki Spun Fiberglass frameworks, hourglass bases, ergonomic arched fan b...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsFiberglass, Glass
- Pair of Russell Woodard Black Satin Spring Rocker Lounge Chairs, 1950sBy Russell WoodardLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican midcentury Black cantilevered Barrel Rocker Armchairs by Russell Woodard. Featuring a solid Black enameled Iron framework, spring base, smooth and taut expanded wire seat an...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron, Wire
- Russell Woodard Black Iron Étagère with Four Water Glass Shelves, 1950sBy Russell WoodardLocated in Bainbridge, NYRussell Woodard four tier black iron étagère with original water glass shelves, circa 1960. Featuring a rounded top with sturdy black enameled frame...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsIron
- Russell Woodard Set of Three Black Iron Nesting Tables, 1950'sBy Russell WoodardLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican Mid Century Modern set of 3 Russell Lee Woodward Stacking Tables. Featuring original Indoor / Outdoor square black enameled wrought iron and exp...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsMetal, Iron
- Russell Woodard Black Iron & Wire Mesh Occasional Tripod Table, 1950'sBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Bainbridge, NYOriginal Russell Woodard Black Wrought Iron and Wire Mesh Occasional Table. Featuring a High Black Gloss enameled three legged reinforced framework with sturdy circular, wire Mesh s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron, Wire
- Pair of Russell Woodard Style Black Wrought Iron Lounge Chairs, 1960'sBy Russell WoodardLocated in Bainbridge, NYPair of Russell Woodard attributed black enamel Wrought Iron Linai Chairs. Featuring rugged, balanced frameworks, handcrafted in black enameled wrought iron, with comfortable woven w...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron, Wire
- Set of 3 Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass StoolsBy Russell WoodardLocated in Stamford, CTSet of three 1960s Russell Woodard spun fiberglass outdoor stools.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsFiberglass
- Vintage Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass Peacock ChairBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYBring home garden furniture that is truly fit for a king or queen with this fantastic peacock throne chair designed by Russell Woodard. A spun fiberglass construction gives this sea...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass
- Mid Century Modern Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass Chaise Lounge ChairBy Russell WoodardLocated in Delray Beach, FLExceptional Russell Woodard spun fiberglass lounge chaise. Exceptional woven pattern provides a sturdy structure.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsMetal
- Mid Century Modern Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass Swivel Chairs - Set of 4By Russell WoodardLocated in Delray Beach, FLExceptional set of 4 Mid-Century Modern spun fiberglass Russell Woodard stools. Each feature a woven frame with a white finish and swivel top.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsFiberglass
- Mid Century Modern Sculptural Spun Fiberglass Chaise Lounge by Russell WoodardBy Russell WoodardLocated in Port Jervis, NYFabulous Mid Century Modern Sculptural Spun Fiberglass Chaise Lounge by Russell Woodard. 3 positions for back rest. In excellent vint...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsFiberglass, Paint
- Set of 8 Russell Woodard Sculptura ArmchairsBy Russell WoodardLocated in Brooklyn, NYSet of 8, Mid-Century Modern, wrought iron mesh and steel, low armchairs by Russell Woodard, Sculptura.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsSteel, Wrought Iron
