Set of Four Garden, Patio, Poolside Chairs by Woodard
About the Item
- Creator:Russell Woodard (Designer),Woodard Furniture Co. (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)Depth: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Seat Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Original, clean, ready to use condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU978730757392
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Cohoes, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Set of Eight Woodard Sculptura Patio Garden Poolside Dining ChairsBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYRare set of eight original Sculptura dining chairs by Woodard. The set includes two high back bucket chairs, two low back, and four armless chairs. Very hard to find a set of eight, ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Set of Three Garden Patio Poolside Sling Seat Lounge Chairs by SalteriniBy Salterini, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYVoguish suite of three sling seat lounge chairs by noted garden furniture maker, Salterini. The chais features a suspended upholstered continuous back, seat rest in original diamond ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Pr. Decorative Garden Patio Poolside Wrought Iron Chairs by WoodardBy Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYPair of decorative garden, patio, poolside chairs in wrought iron and metal mesh. The chairs are in very good, original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Priced and offered as a pair, attributed to Woodard, unsigned. Please view of extensive collection of garden and patio...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Garden Patio Poolside Cantilevered Arm Chair Att. to WoodardBy Homecrest, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYChic architectural cantilevered dining height arm chair, having a squared stock metal frame, and a metal mesh seat and back. Manufacture attributed to Woodard, this example is unsign...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Garden Patio Poolside Metal Rocking Chair Att. to WoodardBy Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYGarden, patio, poolside, rocking chair of wrought iron and metal mesh. The chair is in very good original condition, clean and ready to use. We also offer custom powder coating if yo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Set of Four Vintage Garden Patio Poolside Metal Strap Dining ChairsBy Woodard Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYSet of four wrought iron and metal mesh garden, patio, poolside dining chairs. Te chairs have metal strap backs, and metal mesh seats. All four are in very fine, original, clean and ready to use condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Offered and priced as a set of four. Please view our extensive collection of vintage garden, patio, poolside, and sunroom furniture...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsMetal, Wrought Iron
- Set of Four "Sculptura" Patio Dining Armchairs by Lee WoodardBy Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Los Angeles, CASet of four dining armchairs by Lee Woodard for Woodard Furniture, c.1950s, USA. The armchairs are from Woodard’s “Sculptura” line designe...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Russell Woodard Pair of White 'Sculptura' Patio ChairsBy Russell WoodardLocated in Waalwijk, NLRussell Woodard, pair of 'Sculptura' patio chairs, wrought iron, white lacquer, United States, 1950s. These 'Sculptura' patio chairs are designed by Russell Woodard. Executed in iro...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Refinished and Upholstered Conversation Set by Woodard SalteriniBy Woodard Furniture Co., Salterini, Russell WoodardLocated in Cumberland, RIRefinished and upholstered conversation set by Woodard Salterini. This set will be complimentarily sandblasted and powder coated prior to delivery ...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Iron, Wrought Iron
- Woodard Wrought Iron Patio Chairs 6By Woodard Furniture Co., Russell WoodardLocated in Cumberland, RIA beautiful set of 6 vintage chairs made from wrought iron, perfect for adding a touch of antique charm to any living space. The sturdy and durable construction ensures that these ch...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsMetal, Iron, Wrought Iron
- Steel Spring Outdoor / Patio Chaise Lounge by WoodardBy Woodard Furniture Co.Located in Van Nuys, CAWhite steel tubular outdoor / patio chaise lounge, produced in 1960 by the Woodard Furniture Company. This comfortable and stylish vintage chaise lounge features a fully adjustable r...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsSteel
- Russell Woodard Pinecrest Patio Dining SetBy Woodard Furniture Co., Russell WoodardLocated in Los Angeles, CAOutdoor dining set by Russell Woodard for Woodard Furniture, c.1950s. The Pinecrest set features four wrought iron side chairs and oval table with glass top. The underside of the tab...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron