The Vintage Patio Furniture Brand You'd Be Lucky To Score At The Thrift Store

While many homeowners these days are on the hunt for mid-century modern furniture at the thrift store for their retro-inspired interior, not many think to bring the look to their patio. This is really a shame — having a patio seating area using vintage outdoor pieces really brings the wow factor to an entertainment area. One name that stands out when it comes to vintage patio furniture is the JR Bunting Glider Company of Philadelphia. From the 1930s to the 1970s, Bunting gliders and metal furniture sets were practically required when it came to summertime porch sitting. Finding a Bunting glider secondhand is like hitting the lottery. If you happen to come across one, it's definitely an outdoor patio find you should never skip at the thrift store.

JR Bunting started out as a bedding and furniture company. It then began making patio furniture in the 1920s and '30s, most significantly, the first steel glider. After World War II, JR Bunting gliders were practically on every patio in the U.S. They often came in sets with two chairs, were available in multiple patterns, and came in all the popular mid-century modern colors. They were and are the perfect piece of furniture for any retro-inspired outdoor entertainment area. If you're JR Bunting thrift store find has seen better days, you should still grab it. Their sturdy all-metal construction, either steel or aluminum depending on when it was manufactured, can be restored to be just as durable as when it was first made. Even restored JR Bunting gliders can sell in the thousands.

Cast iron patio furniture was extremely popular prior to the turn of the century and had many benefits for the time. In the early 1900s, steel became the material of choice, due to it being cheaper to manufacture and lighter in weight. This is why JR Bunting gliders were first made out of steel until lighter, and even cheaper, non-rusting aluminum became more popular around the 1950s. Every piece of Bunting patio furniture was built to last, and that is why you can still find these gliders in good structural shape to this day.

Identifying an authentic Bunting glider generally doesn't require you to get an authenticator to determine if it's a real vintage piece of furniture. There are a few key characteristics that make a Bunting glider stand out. Perhaps the easiest way to see if your thrift find is an authentic piece of porch history is to look at the bottom, if it has the name "Bunting Glider Co. Phila. PA" stamped in the metal, you're a winner. If your find has a metal basket weave pattern in squares on the seat and the back, it is also authentic, that was a patented design made only by Bunting; it was also their most popular. Bunting gliders also have two distinct design elements that can be used to identify them: The back of the seat and bottom of the bench have curled edges, and the sides will have a "lily or trumpet" shape. So, the next time you're at the thrift store and you're wanting some retro furniture for your outdoor siesta, keep an eye out for the Bunting glider.