Walter Lamb Settees

American

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.

Creator: Walter Lamb

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Two Seater Settee

$25,000

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Two Seater Settee

By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Bronze two seater settee by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The settee has a beautiful curved construction in tubular bronze with a patinated verdigris finish. The sofa has one rounded support at the middle of the sofa and a stretcher that runs the length of the piece. The arm rests carry the same curved detail with double bronze tubing. This piece has been newly reroped. All Walter Lamb patio furniture at DEN has been restored with the utmost attention to the designer’s original specifications. We rope all seating...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Bronze

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Three Seater Sofa

$35,000

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Three Seater Sofa

By Brown Jordan, Walter Lamb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Bronze three seater sofa by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The sofa has a beautiful curved construction in tubular bronze with a patinated verdigris finish. The sofa has two rounded s...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Bronze

Set of Four Brown Jordan Neoclassical Style Garden Dining Chairs

$2,500 / set

H 34.5 in W 18.5 in D 21 in

Set of Four Brown Jordan Neoclassical Style Garden Dining Chairs

By Brown Jordan

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Neoclassical style set of four patio and garden dining chairs made by Brown Jordan. Heavy and solid cast aluminum construction with a lattice design influenced by Mario Papperzini fo...

Category

20th Century American Neoclassical Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Aluminum

ViNTAGE HAND DYED BROWN LEATHER ART DECO THREE SEAT SOFA FEATHER FILLED SEAT

$3,734

H 28.94 in W 69.69 in D 38.39 in

ViNTAGE HAND DYED BROWN LEATHER ART DECO THREE SEAT SOFA FEATHER FILLED SEAT

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage hand made in England Art Deco style reddish brown leather sofa with overstuffed feather ...

Category

20th Century English Art Deco Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Leather

French Three-Seat Conversation Sofa

$4,500

H 24.5 in W 50.5 in D 50.5 in

French Three-Seat Conversation Sofa

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

An interesting three-seat roundabout "indiscret" or conversation sofa, similar to a tete-a-tete with one extra seat. There are three curved, upholst...

Category

19th Century French Other Antique Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Rattan Settee in the Style of John Wisner for Ficks Reed

$2,542

H 29 in W 49 in D 33 in

Mid-Century Modern Rattan Settee in the Style of John Wisner for Ficks Reed

By Ficks Reed

Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Vintage settee/loveseat with serpentine arms, in the style of John Wisner for Ficks Reed, 1950s. Very well executed rattan and hardwood construction, with spring support, beautiful ...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Fabric, Rattan

Walnut framed two-seater settee

$2,112Sale Price|20% Off

H 40 in W 56 in D 28 in

Walnut framed two-seater settee

Located in Cheshire, GB

Walnut framed two-seater settee, the finely carved shaped frame above upholstered back and seat enclosed by out swept scrolling arms. All raised up on slender cabriole supports termi...

Category

Early 20th Century British Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Walnut

Edwardian Mahogany Two Seater Sofa Settee

$2,647

H 32 in W 37 in D 20 in

Edwardian Mahogany Two Seater Sofa Settee

Located in Altrincham, GB

Edwardian Mahogany 2 Seater Sofa with Lyre Central Panel, Satinwood and Ebony Inlays with Sheraton Style Square Tapered Legs - 37"w x 20"d x 32"h (16" to the seat)

Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Mahogany

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise Lounge, circa 1960s

$8,400

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 ...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Garden Patio Poolside Wrought Iron Settee Att. to Woodard

$495

H 32.5 in W 44 in D 25 in

Mid Century Garden Patio Poolside Wrought Iron Settee Att. to Woodard

By Woodard Furniture Co., Salterini

Located in New York, NY

Stylish wrought iron and metal mesh loveseat settee, attributed to Woodard. This example is in very good condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Wrought Iron

Modern Indoor Outdoor Philippe Starck for Kartell Ploof Settee

$960Sale Price|20% Off

H 25 in W 71 in D 30 in

Modern Indoor Outdoor Philippe Starck for Kartell Ploof Settee

By Kartell

Located in Pasadena, TX

Kartell Philippe Starck was born in Paris on 18th January 1949 the son of an aircraft designer; it is he who probably inspired the young Starck. Even at a very early age Starck sh...

Category

1990s European Modern Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Aluminum

Orange Faux Bamboo Conservatory Chair, Brown Jordan

$862

H 34.26 in W 20.67 in D 19.69 in

Orange Faux Bamboo Conservatory Chair, Brown Jordan

By Brown Jordan

Located in Hastings, GB

A superb Brown Jordan Calcutta faux bamboo chair, inspired by Chippendale this chair dates to the 1960’s, it has been overpainted during it’s lifetime and the top colour is now a vib...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Metal

French Louis XIV Three-Seat Walnut Sofa

$12,750

H 36 in W 60 in D 28 in

French Louis XIV Three-Seat Walnut Sofa

Located in Troy, NY

A settee of small size, elegant lines and understated details, triple-arch-back, open scrolling arms, the seat supported by four turned front legs connected by turned center stretche...

Category

Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze 'Waikiki' Rocking Chaise, 1960s, New Canvas

$8,200

H 20.5 in W 22 in D 70 in

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 ...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Bronze

Previously Available Items

Walter Lamb Rare Settee with Celebrity Provenance, Early Production, circa 1955

Sold

H 36 in W 48.5 in D 42 in

Walter Lamb Rare Settee with Celebrity Provenance, Early Production, circa 1955

By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This sculptural rare settee by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan is an early production example which was originally purchased by and continually owned by Shirley Temple Black, which from her estate we acquired and then subsequently restored this incredible rare example of Walter Lamb's earlier works. This collectible example of functional Mid-Century Modern art is from the early years of Lamb's work with Brown Jordan, dating from the mid-1950s. This curvy, sexy Art Deco inspired loveseat sofa is comprised of a tubular copper frame featuring the original naturally occurring and highly attractive Verdigris patinated finish...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Copper

Walter Lamb Bronze Patio Settee by Brown Jordan

Sold

H 32 in W 51 in D 34 in

Walter Lamb Bronze Patio Settee by Brown Jordan

By Walter Lamb, Brown Jordan

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A patio settee or loveseat by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. An exceptionally rare example, this piece has a deep seat woven from waxed cotton sailcord around an oxidized bronze frame...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walter Lamb Settees

Materials

Bronze

Walter Lamb settees for sale on 1stDibs.

Walter Lamb settees are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Walter Lamb settees, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original settees by Walter Lamb were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 1950s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider settees by Russell Woodard, Dunbar, and Edward Wormley. Prices for Walter Lamb settees can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $22,000 and can go as high as $25,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $23,500.