Walk into DEN, your eye is naturally drawn upward—to the top shelf where a gorgeous collection of suave, sculptural patio furniture overlooks the showroom floor.
Much of this outdoor collection was designed by Walter Lamb, one of the more enigmatic talents of the Mid-Century Modern era. Though little is known about the man himself, his work speaks volumes.
In the graceful lines of bent bronze and nautical cord, Lamb left behind a quiet kind of genius—one that feels as fresh today as it did nearly a century ago.
What We Know
After World War II, Lamb was living in Hawaii. It was there, while diving in Pearl Harbor, that he came across the wreckage of sunken naval ships—and the bronze piping left behind.
Most people would have seen scrap metal. Lamb saw possibility.
He began repurposing the marine-grade bronze into something entirely new: a series of outdoor furniture pieces that were as resilient as they were refined. These were designs made to weather time, salt, and sun—not only enduring the elements, but becoming more beautiful when exposed to them.
Enter Brown Jordan
In 1945, Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan launched their eponymous company in Pasadena, where they set a new standard for luxury outdoor furniture. Just a few years later, they discovered Lamb’s work and, of course, recognized its brilliance.
By 1948, the Walter Lamb Bronze Collection for Brown Jordan officially entered the scene.
While the line still exists today under the Brown Jordan name, it’s no longer made from bronze. Modern reproductions are crafted from aluminum—lighter, perhaps, but lacking the soulful patina that only bronze can acquire with age.
And that’s what makes the originals so coveted. Lamb’s vintage pieces evolve throughout time, developing a weathered elegance that tells a story.
Kipp Stewart: A Parallel Legacy
Walter Lamb wasn’t the only designer shaping the future of outdoor living. Kipp Stewart, another DEN favorite, was similarly captivated by the potential of bronze, copper, and cord.
While he was in college, Stewart worked at Brown Jordan, producing Lamb’s pieces. That early exposure to Lamb’s style deeply influenced Kipp’s approach to exquisite shapes crafted from simple materials.
Both Kipp Stewart and Walter Lamb brought something unique to the table. And both created furniture that’s as relevant now as it was then.
Why It Endures
Most patio furniture needs to be protected from the outdoors. Walter Lamb’s pieces thrive in it.
Over time, exposure to sun, rain, and salty air transforms the bronze into a rich, sea-glass patina—a surface that softens and deepens with age. It’s this slow transformation that gives Lamb’s designs their soul.
His work is the fine wine of outdoor furniture: it gets better with age, and richer with story.
At DEN, we believe great design doesn’t just survive—it grows more beautiful simply by existing. That ethos is at the heart of every Lamb piece we carry.
We even specialize in re-roping these pieces with fresh yacht cord, keeping true to the original, but beginning a new chapter.
In Closing
Walter Lamb wasn’t one for the spotlight, but his work quietly shaped an entire movement. His designs are thoughtful, enduring, and profoundly comfortable—true expressions of form meeting function.
Here at DEN, we’re proud to showcase his legacy, and even more proud to help it live on as part of your collection.
