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.
$4,500 / item
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Ottoman
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A bronze ottoman by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The ottoman has simple construction in tubular bronze with a patinated finish, with rounded squares serving as runners on each side....
Bronze
$4,350
Walter Lamb Rope Ottoman
By Walter Lamb
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Walter lamb Rope Ottoman Manufactured by Brown Jordan Beautiful natural Verdigris surface
Copper
Black Aluminum and White Vinyl Patio Set by Brown Jordan
By Brown Jordan
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1950’s iconic “Kantan” Patio set design by Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan. The set has be newly professionally restored. Constructed of black powder coated aluminum and white vinyl s...
Aluminum
$6,800 / set
H 29.25 in Dm 48.5 in
Silver Powder Coated Brown Jordan Patio Set with Round Table and 4 Chairs
By Brown Jordan
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Silver Brown Jordan Florentine round patio table with 4 chairs. Professionally stripped painted and powder coated in silver. Has the original glass top . Table 48.5” Diameter 29.25”...
Aluminum
Hollywood Regency Italian Gilt Rope & Tassel Ottoman Stool in Leopard Velvet
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Perch yourself up on a pedestal like Babe Paley did in this 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency gilded rope and tassel leopard ottoman stool. Famed interio...
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Giltwood
$1,850
H 16 in Dm 24 in
Wonderful Italian Gold Gilt Iron Rope Tassel Knotted Round Stool Ottoman Bench
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Italian Gold Gilt Iron Rope Form With Tassel Feet And Knots Round Foot Stool / Ottoman / Bench With Beautiful Upholstery 24"diameter x 16"h
Iron, Gold Leaf
Late-20th Century, French Modern Rope Side Table / Ottoman, 1980s
Located in Odense, DK
This beautiful piece is a French 1980s rope side table and ottoman/stool, a distinctive example of European design that blends sculptural form with tactile materials. A notable examp...
Rope
$1,650 / set
H 36.5 in W 22.75 in D 24.25 in
Brown Jordan “Florentine” Pair of Patio or Garden Arm Chairs - Hunter Green
By Richard Frinier, Brown Jordan
Located in St. Louis, MO
“Florentine” pattern one of the most sought after of the Brown Jordan designs by Richard Frinier, circa late 80s. Pair of patio or garden dining arm chairs . Round table in separat...
Aluminum
$2,200
H 18 in Dm 24.5 in
Vintage 40's Italian Cream & Gold Gilt Faux Rope Tassel Ottoman, Stool or Bench
By Napoléon III
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage Napoléon IIII style or Hollywood Regency round tufted upholstered ottoman. This Italian made cream painted & gold gilt, faux wood rope tassel ottoman...
Upholstery, Wood
$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
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
H 19 in W 25 in D 26 in
Vintage Brown Jordan Outdoor Furniture Calcutta Cushioned Ottoman.
By Brown Jordan
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Brown Jordan Outdoor Furniture Calcutta Cushioned Ottoman, Chippendale Inspired. A vintage Brown Jordan ottoman from t...
Aluminum
$6,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.5 in W 22 in D 70 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise Lounge, circa 1960s
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
$8,800 / set
H 17 in W 27 in D 26 in
Hollywood Regency Napoleon III Style Gilt Rope & Tassel Ottomans in Leopard
By Niccolini, Dorothy Draper, Napoléon III
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Italian pair of gilt rope and tassel ottomans newly professionally restored and refinished with new leopard velvet upholstery and lacquered gil...
Velvet, Wood, Giltwood, Upholstery
$6,410 / item
H 18 in W 24 in D 18 in
COSETTE OTTOMAN - Modern Leather Ottoman with Tibetan Mongolian Lamb Fur Pelt
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
COSETTE OTTOMAN - Modern Leather Ottoman with Tibetan Mongolian Lamb Fur Pelt The Cosette Ottoman is a one-of-a-kind piece that combines luxurious leather an...
Metal
Early Walter Lamb Bronze & Canvas Ottoman
By Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The late 1940s or early 1950s Walter Lamb ottoman predating his partnership with Brown Jordan. The ottoman has a frame in thick tubular bronze and canvas seat laced tightly to the fr...
Bronze
Walter Lamb Ottoman
By Walter Lamb
Located in Soho, London, GB
Ottoman in patinated tubular bronze by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The rope has been recently replace. The item is in good overall condition.
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Ottoman
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A bronze ottoman by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The ottoman has simple construction in tubular bronze with a patinated finish, with roun...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Verdigris Ottomans, circa 1959
By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous and highly sought-after collectors items, these ottomans by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan are early production "originals" of the design, not the newly reproduced ones that lack the quality and substance of the original copper and bronze frames such as this set. These collectible examples are from the early years of Lamb's work with Brown Jordan, dating from the 1950s-1960s. These ottomans / stools are comprised of tubular copper / bronze frames featuring the original highly attractive verdigris patinated finish and have been newly re-strung with woven sail cord, a braided cotton with a nylon core to prevent stretching. This new cording retains the integrity of the design while allowing this set to be fully functional and enjoyed for years to come. Priced individually, we currently have three that are available for purchase. We also carry all the other Walter Lambs designs, such as armchairs and side chairs, dining tables, side tables and coffee tables, lounge chairs and sled chairs with corresponding low ottoman...
Bronze
Walter Lamb for Brown and Jordan Re-Strung Stool
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice vintage bronze tubular stool or ottoman designed by Walter Lamb and produced by Brown and Jordan. This piece has been re-strung with cotton yacht cording by the expert Brown a...
Sold
H 20.25 in W 23.5 in D 17.5 in
Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Verdigris Ottomans, circa 1955
By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Two ottomans by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan recently procured from the estate of Shirley Temple. These collectible examples are from the early years of Lamb's work with Brown Jordan...
Bronze
Set of Five Walter Lamb Chairs with Three Ottomans
By Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Five Walter Lamb; Pair of Wide Arm Chairs with Three Ottomans
Bronze
Pair of Walter Lamb Lounge Chairs and Ottoman
By Walter Lamb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
pair of Walter Lamb green patinated bronze lounge chairs and one ottoman
Bronze
Rare Extra Wide Outdoor/Patio Armchair and Ottoman by Walter Lamb
By Walter Lamb
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Brown & Jordan Wide Outdoor/Patio Armchair and Ottoman by Walter Lamb Round tubular bronze frame with cloth cording seat and back with a verdigris bronze finish. Designed by Wal...
Bronze