Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pioneers of furniture designed especially for the outdoors, Brown Jordan channeled — in tables, lounge chairs and armchairs — the carefree postwar California spirit and helped create a new space in American life: the patio.
The outdoor furniture brand began to take shape in 1945, when Robert Brown, an industrial designer, and Hubert Jordan met in Pasadena, California, and began collaborating on their first design, a traditional wrought-iron breakfast set they called Morning Glory. They offered it for sale via the upscale department store Bullock’s Wilshire. The store ran an ad about the new outdoor set, and, by the end of the day, it had sold out completely.
A few years later, in 1948, the duo followed up with a new, very different design: the Leisure collection, one of the first to combine aluminum with vinyl “lace.” The materials were newly available after the war and offered a mid-century silhouette that was also lightweight and specifically designed for outdoor use. Some of Brown Jordan’s most singular pieces arose from another postwar material: Copper piping salvaged from ships that had sunk at Pearl Harbor was used to create sculptural, curvilinear outdoor furnishings as part of the Walter Lamb Bronze collection, which was first launched in the 1940s.
The Tamiami collection, by Brown Jordan in-house designer Hall Bradley, followed in the 1950s, with streamlined aluminum frames and vinyl seats and backs woven in a diagonal pattern. The line quickly became popular not only in California but across the country and on the East Coast, prompting an expansion from the original two colorways to a wider assortment of of-the-moment hues.
Brown Jordan’s offerings gained recognition as both innovations and symbols of a new kind of leisure. Tadao Inouye’s Kantan lounge chair, launched in 1956, was chosen by the Department of Commerce to be exhibited at the 1959 Industrial World’s Fair in Tokyo. In 1968, it was featured in the Cooper Hewitt’s “Please Be Seated” exhibit.
Bright colorways, metallics, pastels, powder coating and weather-ready materials became some of Brown Jordan’s hallmarks, heralding durable, design-forward furniture that helped create the modern idea of outdoor living.
Find a collection of vintage Brown Jordan furniture today on 1stDibs.
Late 20th Century Philippine Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1980s French Empire Revival Vintage Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Edwardian Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century American Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s Empire Revival Vintage Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Mahogany
1950s Italian Vintage Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
1920s American Louis XVI Vintage Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1960s Italian Louis XV Vintage Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 20th Century Modern Brown Jordan Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Brown Jordan commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
- Is Brown Jordan good quality?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Yes, many people consider Brown Jordan to be good quality. Furniture made by the brand usually features durable materials like wood and aluminum and quality craftsmanship. The outdoor furniture brand began to take shape in 1945, when Robert Brown, an industrial designer, and Hubert Jordan met in Pasadena, California, and began collaborating on their first design, a traditional wrought-iron breakfast set they called Morning Glory. Shop a variety of Brown Jordan furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Brown Jordan chairs are made of a variety of materials. Specifics vary for each piece, but generally, the furniture maker uses wood, vinyl, woven resin wicker, aluminum, glass, stone, rope and UV-resistant fabrics to craft furniture. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Brown Jordan furniture.