Forward-looking architect Walter Lamb is best known for his revolutionary and widely loved patio furniture — he salvaged metal tubing from sunken ships in Pearl Harbor in the 1940s to create alluring chaise longues and other pieces for the backyard. His vintage furniture designs have been adorning patios worldwide for almost a century.
Trained as an architect at the University of California Berkeley campus, Lamb found himself in Hawaii during the 1940s. This period was a time of growth for furniture designers and manufacturers, as veterans were returning to the United States, getting married and starting families. These folks needed practical furniture for their new homes, and as the movement we now call mid-century modern took shape, imaginative architects and furniture makers would fill that need. Lamb was one such innovator.
Lamb worked the shaped tubing and fittings he’d gathered from battleship wreckage into proper frames and wrapped the structures in marine-grade cotton cording to create comfortable, element-proof outdoor furniture. Today his patio furniture has an esteemed place in the history of design. In fact, furniture enthusiasts are eager to restore and collect his iconic aged furniture rather than purchase reproductions.
Postwar California would become reputable as a manufacturing center for versatile furniture intended for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Seating, tables and other items — often made with rattan — produced by the likes of McGuire and Brown Jordan became a defining feature of organic modern living, a style that still characterizes many California interiors and influences innumerable design firms. Pasadena’s then-new Brown Jordan picked up Lamb’s designs, which eventually included dining tables, side tables and coffee and cocktail tables. And along with these furnishings, Lamb's sculptural vintage seating — his curvaceous lounge chairs and armchairs with cotton cord seats — while perfect for your fire pit, shouldn’t be relegated to outdoors-only settings.
Lamb received much acclaim for his work. The Museum of Modern Art in New York recognized his 1940s-era outdoor furniture for Brown Jordan with a design award.
On 1stDibs, find a noteworthy collection of vintage Walter Lamb furniture.
Walter Lamb, Chaise Longue, Bronze, Fabric, USA, 1955
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in High Point, NC
A bronze and fabric cord chaise longue designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan, USA, c. 1955. Seat Height (inches): 12.25" Arm Height (inches): 17.13" All items ship ...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Chaise Lounge
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
S-Lounge patio chair by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. Graceful even for a Lamb design, the chaise lounge is rendered in bronze tubing with a seat of woven yacht cord. Its namesake ar...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise Lounge, circa 1960s
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural bronze 'Waikiki' rocking chaise lounge by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. These collectible examples of functional art features curvy tubular bronze frames and rewoven with ...
Bronze
Early Walter Lamb Bronze & Canvas Patio Chaise Lounge
By Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The late 1940s or early 1950s early S-Lounge patio chair by Walter Lamb predating his partnership with Brown Jordan. The chaise lounge is rendered in thick bronze tubing with a canva...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise, 1960s, New Canvas
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural bronze 'Waikiki' rocking chaise lounge by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. These collectible examples of functional art features curvy tubular bronze frames and rewoven with ...
Bronze
$11,429
H 25.6 in W 76.78 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, Beige Fabric, Handmade by Greenapple
By Rute Martins, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Twins Chaise Longue, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins chaise longue and its matching...
Walnut, Oak, Linen, Mohair, Fabric, Leather, Cotton, Velvet, Bouclé, Wood
Forged Steel Chaise Longue
Located in Chireno, TX
Forged steel chaise longue, adorned in brass detail. Sold with newly-made tie-on upholstered cushion in antique hand-loomed French thistle and natural canvas. All...
Brass, Steel
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
$640Sale Price|44% Off
H 28 in W 21.25 in D 56 in
1960s Cushman Furniture Rock Maple Chaise Lounge Chair
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Elkton, MD
Crafted from durable and high-quality rock maple, this chaise lounge is both sturdy and comfortable. The elegant design, with its sleek lines and smooth curves, makes it a timeless p...
Upholstery, Maple
Brown Jordan Sol Y Luna Chaise Lounge
By Dan Johnson, Brown Jordan
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We have 4 of these beautiful Sol Y Luna Chaise lounge chairs by Brown Jordan. These were originally designed by Dan Johnson as the Gazelle chair. We have had them professionally san...
Aluminum
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Occasional Table
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A patio side table in patinated bronze designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan. The frame is described by two concentric rings of bronze with radial supports and a circu...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Square Side Table
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A side table in patinated bronze designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan. The table has a square shape with rounded corners, supported by four legs in matching bronze. T...
Bronze
$10,885 / item
H 29.93 in W 72.84 in D 30.32 in
Contemporary Chaise Longue by Hessentia Upholstered with Off-White Bouclè Fabric
By HESSENTIA, Cornelio Cappellini
Located in Carate, Brianza (MB)
Inspired by the legendary 1970s, Denver has a shape whose design is clearly visible from the side. The chaise longue is composed of two elements: the...
Metal
Wrought Iron Garden Patio Poolside Chaise Lounge Att. to Woodard
By Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Stylish wrought iron and metal mesh adjustable chaise lounge attributed to the Woodard Furniture Company. The chaise has a reclining backrest, and wheels to easily move the piece. Pe...
Wrought Iron
$5,000 / set
H 30.25 in W 21.63 in D 24.63 in
Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Patio Table and four Chairs
By Brown Jordan, Tadao Inouye
Located in Denton, TX
Vintage set of four of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan dining chairs with round dining table Fully restored with new black powder coat on the frame ...
Metal
19th Century French Garden Chaise
Located in Charleston, SC
Rare 19th century iron French garden chaise. A delightful piece made of hand-forged iron -now patinated with rust with natural colored antique linen.
Wrought Iron
$14,887
H 25.6 in W 23.63 in D 66.93 in
Olivier Mourgue Djinn Chaise Longue for Airborne with Pierre Frey fabric
By Olivier Mourgue
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
The Djinn chaise longue, designed by Olivier Mourgue (born 1939) for Airborne in 1963, is one of those very few quintessential and emblematic early space age designs which - much lik...
Steel
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Rope "Waikiki" Bronze Patio Chaise Lounge
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This bronze rocking lounge chair designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan. The design, referred to as the “Waikiki” chair, has a boat-like shape in tubular bronze with a ...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Chaise Lounge
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
S-Lounge patio chair by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. Graceful even for a Lamb design, the chaise lounge is rendered in bronze tubing with...
Bronze
Bronze 'S Chaise' by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan, c 1970s, Signed
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural 'S'-Chaise longue by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan, circa late 1960s to mid 1970s and is signed with an early Brown Jordan label. This curvy collectors piece features a tubular bronze frame light verdigris patinated finish...
Bronze
Bronze Chaise by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan ca' 1950's
By Walter Lamb
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Unusual, early production chaise by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan, ca' 1950's. Beautiful patina, frame polished, new cotton cording.
Bronze
Sold
H 20 in W 70 in D 22 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise Lounge, circa 1970
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural bronze 'Waikiki' rocking chaise lounges by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. These collectible examples of functional art features curvy tubular bronze frames and previously re-strung with woven sail cord, a braided cotton with a nylon core to prevent stretching. This type of cording retains the integrity of the original design while allowing the lounger to be fully functional and enjoyed for years to come. About 2 years of light outdoor use to the current cording, with plenty of life left - however if you wish to have new rope cording, contact us and we can re-cord them for you. Note, we have 2 available in this listing, priced individually. If the 'Quantity' drop down button on this listing page does not allow you to select a quantity of '2' or is not showing at all that means one has already sold and only one is left available. This sophisticated chaise longue rocker...
Bronze
Waikiki Rocking Chaise Lounge by Walter Lamb
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bronze rocking lounge chair designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan. The design, referred to as the “Waikiki” chair, has a boat-like shape in tubular bronze with a sinuo...
Bronze
Bronze Patio Chaise Lounge by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A single S-lounge patio chair by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. Graceful even for a Lamb design, the chaise lounge is rendered in bronze tubing with a seat of woven yacht cord. Its na...
Bronze
Sold
H 33.5 in W 68 in L 33.5 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan 'S' Chaise Lounge, Early Production, circa 1955
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural "S" chaise lounge by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. This collectible example of functional art is from the early years of Lamb's work with Brown Jordan, dating from the mid...
Bronze
Pair of Waikiki Rocking Chaise Lounges by Walter Lamb
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of bronze rocking lounge chairs designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown Jordan. The design, referred to as the “Waikiki” chair, has a boat-like shape in tubular bronze w...
Bronze
Sold
H 20.5 in W 70 in D 21 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Verdigris Waikiki Lounger, circa 1955
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural "Waikiki" rocking chaise lounge chair by Walter Lamb recently procured from the estate of Shirley Temple. This collectible example of functional art is from the early ye...
Bronze
Sold
H 33.5 in W 68 in D 30 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Verdigris 'S' Chaise Lounge, circa 1955
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural "S" chaise longue by Walter Lamb recently procured from the estate of Shirley Temple. This collectible example of functional art is from the early years of Lamb's work wit...
Bronze
Walter Lamb “Waikiki” Rocking Chaise Lounge for Brown Jordan
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chaise lounge designed by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan in the United States c. 1950’s. Known for his outdoor furniture designs, Lamb’s “Waikiki” rocking chaise lounge chair features ...
Bronze