Pair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Lounge Chairs, ca. 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Tadao Inouye (Designer),Brown Jordan (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 26 in (66.04 cm)Depth: 27 in (68.58 cm)Seat Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:Refinished. Rewoven. Professionally restored frames and new strapping.
- Seller Location:Costa Mesa, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1384235947822
Brown Jordan
Pioneers of furniture designed especially for the outdoors, Brown Jordan channeled — in tables, lounge chairs and armchairs — the carefree postwar California spirit and helped create a new space in American life: the patio.
The outdoor furniture brand began to take shape in 1945, when Robert Brown, an industrial designer, and Hubert Jordan met in Pasadena, California, and began collaborating on their first design, a traditional wrought-iron breakfast set they called Morning Glory. They offered it for sale via the upscale department store Bullock’s Wilshire. The store ran an ad about the new outdoor set, and, by the end of the day, it had sold out completely.
A few years later, in 1948, the duo followed up with a new, very different design: the Leisure collection, one of the first to combine aluminum with vinyl “lace.” The materials were newly available after the war and offered a mid-century silhouette that was also lightweight and specifically designed for outdoor use. Some of Brown Jordan’s most singular pieces arose from another postwar material: Copper piping salvaged from ships that had sunk at Pearl Harbor was used to create sculptural, curvilinear outdoor furnishings as part of the Walter Lamb Bronze collection, which was first launched in the 1940s.
The Tamiami collection, by Brown Jordan in-house designer Hall Bradley, followed in the 1950s, with streamlined aluminum frames and vinyl seats and backs woven in a diagonal pattern. The line quickly became popular not only in California but across the country and on the East Coast, prompting an expansion from the original two colorways to a wider assortment of of-the-moment hues.
Brown Jordan’s offerings gained recognition as both innovations and symbols of a new kind of leisure. Tadao Inouye’s Kantan lounge chair, launched in 1956, was chosen by the Department of Commerce to be exhibited at the 1959 Industrial World’s Fair in Tokyo. In 1968, it was featured in the Cooper Hewitt’s “Please Be Seated” exhibit.
Bright colorways, metallics, pastels, powder coating and weather-ready materials became some of Brown Jordan’s hallmarks, heralding durable, design-forward furniture that helped create the modern idea of outdoor living.
Find a collection of vintage Brown Jordan furniture today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Costa Mesa, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Russell Woodard Sculptura Springer Lounge Chairs, ca. 1950By Russell WoodardLocated in Costa Mesa, CARussell Woodard Sculptura Springer Lounge Chairs, ca. 1950. Original pair of rare, hard to find lounge chair version of his popular s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsIron
- Pair of Russell Woodard Sculptura Outdoor Chairs, ca. 1950By Russell WoodardLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Russell Woodard Sculptura Outdoor Chairs, circa 1950. Professionally restored with new white gloss powder coat. All welds are...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsSteel
- Vintage Allan Gould Style X Chairs with Ottomans, ca. 1970By Allan GouldLocated in Costa Mesa, CAVintage Allan Gould Style X Chairs with Ottomans, ca. 1970. Original iron frames in a playful and fun salmon pink color with original nylon strapping. Very comfortable, the strappi...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Pair of Swivel Lounge Chairs by mCconfort, Italy, ca. 1990Located in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Swivel Lounge Chairs by mCconfort, Italy, ca. 1990. Very comfortable lounge chairs with swivel mechanism and cast aluminum bases. Covers have been cleaned and are easily re...Category
1990s Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Vintage Brass Cathedral Mirrors, ca. 1960Located in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Vintage Brass Cathedral Mirrors, ca. 1960. Beautiful pair of brass framed cathedral mirrors in very good original condition. The beveled glass...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Illum Wikkelso for Soren Willadsen Model 110 Wingback Lounge Chair, ca. 1955By Soren Willadsen Mobelfabrik, Illum WikkelsøLocated in Costa Mesa, CAIllum Wikkelso for Soren Willadsen Model 110 Wingback Lounge Chair, ca. 1955. Exceptional vintage ALL ORGINAL condition, this piece is museum worthy and in wonderful vintage conditi...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan " Kantan "ottomansBy Tadao Inouye, Brown JordanLocated in Denton, TXVintage pair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan "Kantan" ottomans Fully restored with new black powder coat on the frame and contrasting white vinyl strapping.Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furn...
MaterialsPaint
- Designed by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Lounge Chairs for Brown JordanBy Tadao Inouye, Brown JordanLocated in Denton, TXDesigned by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Lounge Chairs for Brown Jordan.The Japanese designer created his pivotal mid-century collection for Brown Jordan in 1956 using the latest lightweight...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Tadao Inouye For Brown Jordan Kantan Patio SetBy Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Denton, TXTadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Patio Set. The glass tabletop can be disassembled into four quadrants, and the chair straps are in excellent condition. While the entire set is f...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furn...
MaterialsAluminum
- Designed by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Chaise Lounges for Brown JordanBy Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Denton, TXDesigned by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Aluminum exemplifies the breezy spirit of patio life. The frame is newly powder coated in Gray with new white lacing. ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Designed by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Benches for Brown JordanBy Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Denton, TXHard to fend these rare benches.Designed by Tadao Inouye, Kantan Aluminum benches exemplifies the breezy spirit of patio life. The Japanese designer created his pivotal mid-centur...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Patio Table and four ChairsBy Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Denton, TXVintage 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 and contrasting white strappi...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furn...
MaterialsMetal