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.
| Average Sold Price |
| $1,982 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
Set of Four Mid Century Woodard Sculptura Dining Arm Chairs
By Woodard Furniture Co., Russell Woodard
Located in New York, NY
Set of four Russell Woodard designed, Woodard Sculptura dining height arm chairs. Classic Mid Century Modern period garden, patio, poolside chairs, suitable for either indoor or out...
Wrought Iron
$1,000 / set
H 27 in W 36 in D 21 in
Russell Woodard Spun Fiberglass Beige "Peacock" Cafe Set for Four, 1950s
By Russell Woodard
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Russell 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...
Fiberglass, Glass
$2,796Sale Price|30% Off
H 27 in W 52 in D 29 in
Russell Woodard Mid Century Modern Sculptura Mesh Patio Settee Loveseat Sofa 52"
By Russell Woodard
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century modern Russell Woodard Sculptura bench / settee / loveseat. Made of wrought iron and mesh featuring a sculptured ergonomic design. Dimens...
Metal, Iron
$7,200 / set
H 27 in W 72 in D 24 in
Woodard Sculptura 3 Piece Wire Set in Wonderful Green Faded Paint
By Russell Woodard
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A lovely set of three pieces of Woodard Sculptura furniture painted a great color of green. The green has faded, chipped and roasted to a wonderful patina. Please see the detailed ph...
Iron
$2,295 / set
H 26.75 in W 32.25 in D 25.5 in
2 MCM Polished Aluminum Barrel Swivel Lounge Chairs Chrome Tulip Base by Woodard
By Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage MCM (Mid-Century Modern) polished aluminum and chrome tulip base barrel swivel lounge chairs by Russell Woodard, a pair. This piece has been attributed based upon archived research including online sources, vintage documentation and catalogs, designer literature, and other materials however, it is not signed or marked in any way. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, there is some water spotting throughout the aluminum. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1960’s. Get ready for a little SIZZLE in your SWIVEL with these incredible vintage swivel lounge chairs by Russell Woodard!!! This pair of beauties are comprised of sculptured polished aluminum frames and handsome chrome pedestal bases. Their curved backs sweep down and around to form the arms in a rather curvaceous bucket shape. The bucket seat is perched atop a fabulous chrome swivel base. Yes… we know… most of these Woodard aluminum tulip-shaped chairs have the same aluminum base patterned as the bucket seat and can be used outside; however, this set has the original pedestal chromed base that would not be suitable for the out of doors. They will, however, be very suitable and look wonderful in your sunroom, living room, family room, entryway, bedroom, or any room you choose! Plus… we do have one back cushion to use as a pattern for the back cushion which we will provide upon purchase. These fabulous barrel swivel chairs are the epitome of mid-century modern magnificence and are sure to make a fashionable statement in your home!!! For over 150 years, Woodard has been one of the industry leaders in classic outdoor patio furniture design, manufacturing, and distribution. They are committed to building modern outdoor to timeless classic outdoor and patio furniture. Lyman E Woodard purchased a lumber mill in Owosso, Michigan in 1866 and he and his three brothers founded Woodard Brothers which was a company that manufactured wood furniture, window blinds, door and window sashes, and caskets. In 1882 they created a second company called The Owosso Casket Company and in 1890 Lyman bought his brothers out of that company. Between 1890 and 1900 Lyman’s three sons and his son-in-law joins the business and in 1902 Woodard Brothers opened a planning mill and two more factories in order to make shipping more convenient. Lyman Woodard passed away in 1904 and his three sons and his son-in-law take over. In 1934 due to the Great Depression there was a depletion of hardwood and pine, so the company switched from caskets to making metal outdoor furniture...
Aluminum, Chrome
$1,895 / set
H 30.5 in W 21.75 in D 25 in
8 Pc Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Spun Fiberglass Dining Set by Russell Woodard
By Russell Woodard
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous 8pc indoor outdoor dining set of spun fiberglass by Russell Woodard. Set includes table with a glass top, not pictured, glass is per...
Paint, Fiberglass
$3,250 / set
H 43 in W 28.5 in D 74 in
Mid-Century Modern Wrought Iron Chaise Lounges by Russell Woodard
By Russell Woodard
Located in Omaha, NE
A refined pair of mid-century wrought iron chaise lounges attributed to Woodard Furniture Company, circa 1955–1965. These classic patio pieces feature hand-wrought floral and vine sc...
Wrought Iron
Mid Century Woodard Sculptura Iron Garden Patio Table and 4 Chair set
By Woodard Furniture Co., Russell Woodard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Vinatge Woodard Sculptura Iron Garden Patio Table and 4 Chair set. Great set in good vintage condition has been painted white a few times all chairs and table are structu...
Steel, Iron
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $1,982 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $100-$4,400 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |
