A return to the bronze age

Brown Jordan has reissued Walter Lamb’s iconic outdoor furniture line, first designed for the El Monte company in 1947. Although the metal-tube and cotton-rope furniture is often referred to as the Bronze Collection, it’s actually made of brass, says Steve Elton, Brown Jordan’s director of sales. “The outdoor furniture was originally made from salvaged brass tubing taken from sunken ships in Pearl Harbor after World War II,” Elton says. “It was called bronze because the brass turns a bronzy color and incorrectly referred to that way in subsequent press mentions.” New steel supports strengthen the frames, and the cotton rope that had been used for the seats has been replaced with longer-lasting nylon polyester. The eight-piece collection includes chairs, chaise, lounge chair and ottoman and tables. And if people happen to like the shiny brass look? “A good rubbing with Scotch-Brite will remove the patina,” Elton says, “but most people seem to prefer it bronzy-looking.” Brown Jordan, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; (310) 659-0771; www.brownjordan.com.

-- Barbara Thornburg