Mid-Century Modern Russell Woodard Sculptura Patio Wrought Iron Bench
About the Item
- Creator:Russell Woodard (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Width: 52.5 in (133.35 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)Seat Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. This piece is in original vintage condition with age-appropriate wear. it has been outside and does have some oxidation-adds to the vintage appeal. A few bent pieces of mesh-hard to notice.
- Seller Location:Pemberton, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU943227789102
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: Pemberton, NJ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Fabulous Set 6 Woodard Sculptura Mesh Patio Chair Mid-Century ModernBy Russell WoodardLocated in Pemberton, NJWonderful set of 6 mid-century mesh patio chairs. These 'Sculptura' patio chairs are designed by Russell Woodard. Executed in iron and woven steel, these chairs feature an intricate...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Pair of John Woodard Sculptura Springer Patio Lounge Chairs Mid CenturyBy John WoodardLocated in Pemberton, NJWonderful pair of 1950s 'Sculptura' lounge chairs designed by John Woodard. Woodard's Sculptura collection was made with wrought iron frames and woven steel mesh seats. These are the...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Sensational Early Set Russel Woodard Mesh Patio Table 4 Chairs Mid-CenturyBy Russell WoodardLocated in Pemberton, NJVery rare Russell Woodard 1960’s 5 piece outdoor patio dining set. The heavy mid-century modern armchairs each have 2 large Iron ball top finials on top a...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Unusual Set of 4 Geometric Salterini Patio Chairs Mid-Century ModernBy John SalteriniLocated in Pemberton, NJUnusual set of 4 geometric Salterini patio chairs with fabulous built in table. We have never seen another set of these so they must be quite rare. We just love the very unusual hair...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Awesome Salterini Style Mid-century Rocking Chair PatioBy John Salterini, Maurizio TempestiniLocated in Pemberton, NJOUTSTANDING MID-CENTURY MODERN SALLTERINI STYLE VINTAGE IRON ROCKER. THIS ROCKER IS IN VERY GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION -JUST PAINTED AND LOOKS GREAT. THERE ARE NO BREAKS IN THE WEL...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
MaterialsIron
- Fantastic Set 4 Maurizio Tempestini for Salterini Clam Shell Iron Patio ChairsBy John Salterini, Maurizio TempestiniLocated in Pemberton, NJFantastic set of 4 wrought iron and metal mesh lounge designed by Maurizio Tempestini and manufactured by Salterini. Wrought iron frames with metal mesh seats and backs. All chairs a...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Russell Woodard Mid-Century Modern Sculptura Wrought Iron Settee - Restored -By Woodard Furniture Co., Russell WoodardLocated in St. Louis, MOMid-Century Modern Russell Woodard designed Sculptura wrought iron mesh settee. This settee to be restored, includes sandblasting, dipped in rust coating and sprayed with satin black...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Mid-Century Modern Russell Woodard Sculptura Outdoor Mesh Iron BenchBy Russell WoodardLocated in Wilmington, DEMid-Century Modern Russell woodard sculptura outdoor wrought iron bench Offered is a vintage outdoor bench by Russell Woodard 'Sculptura'. It ha...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsIron
- Mid-Century Modern Early Russell Woodard Sculptura Patio SofaBy Russell WoodardLocated in West Hollywood, CAThis rare find Woodard furniture piece is an early production from the 1950s of the Russell Woodard sculptural patio sofa is crafted with precision by Russell Woodard, an influential...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Mid-Century Modern Patio Armchairs By Russell Woodard, SculpturaBy Russell WoodardLocated in Brooklyn, NYSet of four, iconic, Mid-Century Modern, wrought iron mesh and steel, outdoor/patio, armchairs by Russell Woodard, Sculptura.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsSteel, Wrought Iron
- Mid-Century Modern Russell Woodard Sculptura Outdoor Mesh Iron BenchBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Buffalo, NYOffered here is a seldom seen, vintage outdoor bench / settee by Russell Woodard Sculpture It has a wrought iron frame with a low-slung woven mesh steel seat made to withstand all we...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Russell Woodard Sculptura Wrought Iron Rocker Rocking Chair Mid-Century ModernBy Russell WoodardLocated in Wayne, NJVintage Russell Woodard Sculptura wrought iron rocking chair. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zipcode, as we may be abl...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron