A Guide to Buying Vintage Patio Furniture

Outdoor furniture has not always been historically well documented. Because it was often viewed as temporary (due to its exposure to the elements—sun, wind, rain, and snow) homeowners tended to replace it every few years. Indoor furniture that is built to last has traditionally garnered more attention and praise. Through the years, labels and marques on patio furniture have fallen off. And thanks to the internet and a plethora of "experts," misidentification of furniture manufacturers and lines runs rampant.

In spite of the seasonal nature of outdoor furniture, however, many of these outdoor pieces unexpectedly held up through the years, and collectors began taking notice of certain manufacturers, lines, or styles that they found especially appealing. Some pieces might have survived because the original owners took better care of all their possessions—"pride of ownership" may have been handed down from their ancestors. Remaining patio sets might have been stored in basements or sheds during the offseason, and cleaned regularly or protected by overhead roofs or shade.

Others might have been used indoors. During the post-World War II housing boom, the John B. Salterini NEVA-RUST furniture company marketed its garden furniture in home and garden magazine ads, touting, "It's the decorative trend, using wrought iron furniture indoors because it brings into your home the freshness and gaiety of a flowery summer garden."

Salterini also made a push for indoor use in magazine advertisements featuring illustrations of lean, long-legged homemakers in high heels and aprons serving dinner on their patio dining tables, with ad copy suggesting the furniture was perfect for budget-minded "young marrieds." Recommending that homeowners use the garden furniture indoors helped justify the higher price tags on these sets, which were sold at "finer furniture stores" and through interior decorators.

West Coast-based companies like O.W. Lee and Brown Jordan focused on producing outdoor furniture that could be used year-round in climates that enjoyed the burgeoning patio culture, like California, Arizona, and Florida.

"The midcentury years in Los Angeles were a period of extraordinary creativity, nurturing designers and architects like Charles Eames, Richard Neutra, and John Lautner, while a mild climate allowed people to redefine concepts of architecture and lifestyle," explains Stephen F. Elton, Chief Brand Officer for Brown Jordan. "Entertaining on the patio or lounging by the pool became a way of life. And Brown Jordan became synonymous with outdoor furniture of timeless design and enduring quality."

01 of 09

Mid-Century Doesn't Always Mean It's Modern

AMC

While most of the more collectible lines of outdoor furniture are Midcentury Modern in style, not everything produced during that era was modern. Salterini designed the ultra-modern Clamshell line but also manufactured more traditional pieces like the French Provincial set—same wrought iron material but an entirely different look.

Prices vary widely for patio furniture—many sellers don't know what they have since it has not been well documented. Yes, it's possible to score a deal on more high-end pieces through sites like eBay or Craigslist, but don't expect the furniture to be in the pristine condition you might find on auction sites like 1stDibs. However, with research and vigilance, you might find something valuable that you absolutely love.

We've researched and compiled a list of the most collectible brands of outdoor furniture, including their more popular lines.
02 of 09

Ames Aire

Ethan/Flickr/CC by 2.0

Location: Minnesota

Notable Features: Lightweight outdoor furniture with zinc-coated tubular steel frames and vinyl cording or strapping that came in turquoise, lilac, orange, yellow and white, with black or bronze frames. Tabletops were made of safety-tempered glass.
03 of 09
Brown Jordan

Brown Jordan

Location: Started in Pasadena, California.
Year Established: 1945
Founders: Industrial designer Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan

Notable Lines:
- Bronze collection by Walter Lamb. Introduced in the 1940s and made using cotton cording and copper pipe salvaged from naval ships that had sunk in Pearl Harbor, the Bronze collection was popular through the 1960s and reintroduced in 2008.
- Calcutta, aka Chinese Chippendale
- Kailua
- Kantan by Tadao E. Inouye, 1956
- Lido
- Mai Tai by John Caldwell
- Morning Glory (for Bullocks Wilshire in Los Angeles)
- Nomad
- Orient
- Quantum by Richard Frinier
- Regent
- "S" lounge chair by Walter Lamb
- Sol y Luna
- Tamiami by Hall Bradley, 1950s
- Venetian Grotto
- Waikiki
04 of 09
Homecrest

Kenny K of K2 Modern

Location: Wadena, Minnesota
Year Established: Company started in 1953
Founders: Mert Bottemiller and Al Engelmann started Homecrest as an offshoot of a retail furniture shop when they attempted to design a better hassock (ottoman) than their vendors could supply. The business expanded into lines of indoor and outdoor furniture.
Known for: Modern designs and Bottemiller's swivel rocker mechanism, which was patented in 1956.

Notable Lines and Products:
- Bermuda
- Caribbean
- Carousel
- Casino
- Chiquita
- Courting swing
- Edina
- Grenada
- Hilo table
- Holly Hill
- Jamaica server
- Kingston
- Leisure
- Martinique
- Montego
- Nassau glider
- Riviera
- Siesta chaise (pictured; courtesy of Kenny K of K2 Modern)
- Summer Set
Continue to 5 of 9 below.
05 of 09
Molla

Ebay member eames14

Molla began in England in the late 1800s but moved to the East Coast to produce neoclassical cast aluminum and magnesium metal furniture that was saltwater resistant—suitable for the estates in Newport, Rhode Island, and beach houses on Cape Cod. Midcentury pieces featured Alumaloy frames that were advertised as being resistant to pitting and rusting—major issues with metal furniture kept outside. Metal finishes included special names like Pompeian, Old Pewter, Mediterranean Blue, Iridescent Green, Venetian Blue, Venetian Green, and Yellow.

Notable Lines and Products:
- Brighton
- Diana the Huntress
- Double chaise lounge
- Greek key
- Marina
- Nassau
- Neoclassical
- Seahorse and Shell (pictured, photo courtesy of eBay member eames14)
- Zodiac table
06 of 09
Rattan

Wicker Paradise/Flickr/CC by 2.0

Sometimes mistakenly referred to as bamboo, rattan furniture was made by many manufacturers in the mid-1900s. Rattan got a big push after World War II when troops who returned from fighting in the Pacific sought out furnishings, accessories, clothing, music, and food that reminded them of the South Sea islands and tropics.

The following is a list of companies that produced rattan furniture during its heyday. Pieces tended to be large and were better indoors or under a covered patio. Collectors favor strands—what look like poles—and the more strands, the better. Past collectors include Bruce Springsteen and Diane Keaton.
- Franco Albini
- Heywood Wakefield
- Paul Frankl
- Ritts
- Seven Seas
- Tropical Sun
07 of 09
Salterini

Kenny K/K2 Modern

Location: New York City
Era: 1928 to 1953
Founder: John B. Salterini, who emigrated from Italy

Notable Lines and Products:
- Banana Leaf
- Cheerio
- Clamshell by Italian architect/designer Maurizio Tempestini (pictured, photo courtesy of Kenny K of K2 Modern)
- Cubist
- Della Robbia
- Dogwood
- French Provincial
- Ivy
- Laurel Leaf
- Lily Pad
- Magnolia
- Montego
- Mt. Vernon
- Palm Springs
- Park Avenue
- Peacock
- Rambler: Vines, leaves and berries; art nouveau inspired
- Ribbon by Maurizio Tempestini
- Riviera by Maurizio Tempestini
- Rose Leaf
- Roslyn
- Sea Island
- Verdigre
- Willow
08 of 09
Tropitone

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Location: Established in Sarasota, Florida. In 1970, the company moved its headquarters to Orange County, California.
Year: 1954
Founder: Started as the Sarasota Redwood Furniture Co., a commercial furniture maker, by retired engineer Burt M. Baker

Notables Lines and Products:
- Aegean
- Boccaccio
- Brasilia
- California Redwood
- Cantina
- Cayman
- Colony
- Coventry Manor
- Down East
- Jai Alai
- Leilani
- Manele Bay
- Marrakesh
- Orleans
- Pagoda
- Orleans
- Seychelle
- Southampton
- Verrazano
Continue to 9 of 9 below.
09 of 09
Woodard

Kenny K

Location: Owosso, Michigan
Era: 1930s
Founders: Lee Woodard began making handcrafted metal furniture in the 1930s. His three sons, Joe, Lyman and Russell, built the company to become a leader in outdoor furnishings.

Notable Lines and Products:
- Andalusion
- Chantilly Rose
- Chateau Lorraine
- Daisy Bouquet
- Grapevine
- Mayfield
- Pacific
- Pinecrest
- Sculptura
- Spun fiberglass (pictured; photo courtesy of Kenny K of K2 Modern
- Trianon
- Tulip-shaped aluminum

A Buyer's Guide to Vintage Patio Furniture

Mid-Century Doesn't Always Mean It's Modern

Ames Aire

Brown Jordan

Homecrest

Molla

Rattan

Salterini

Tropitone

Woodard

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