Robert Brown is responsible for several furniture design innovations.

by Mairi Beautyman
Interior Design · May 2, 2013

The founder and lead designer of furniture manufacturer Brown Jordan has landed the Casual Furniture Retailers and Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association’s 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award. Robert Brown is honored for his “exemplary contribution to the casual furniture industry and to their communities,” according to press material.

In the late 1930’s Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan sold their first outdoor furniture collection to Bullock’s Department Store for $20. The duo made their big break in the early ‘40s with Morning Glory, a collection that has since become a collector’s item.

In later years, Brown’s visionary tactics inspired several design innovations, including cast aluminum reproductions of cast iron detailing, without the weight and cost, and woven lace strap seating. The firm’s use of brass tubing, reclaimed from sunken ships, served as a precursor to today’s interest in recycled and reused materials.

Brown Jordan, established in 1945 in Pasadena, California, features more than 30 luxury collections, mainly fabricated in stainless steel, teak, aluminum, and woven resin. The firm was sold to the Scott Paper Company in 1969, upon Brown’s retirement. He passed away in 2001.

“Robert Brown left a lasting impression on the industry with his ethics in business and his constant pursuit of perfection in design and quality. This industry is better because of him,” says Stephen Elton, Brown Jordan director of product development and marketing.