The Product

Characteristic Imperfections – Due to severe conditions that batter the Golden Gate Bridge, each piece of furniture contains characteristic imperfections that were etched into the steel by the wind and salt air. This makes each furniture piece one of a kind.

Original Rail Design – In order to preserve the original look and feel of the Golden Gate Bridge, the shape and design of the handrail has been incorporated into each furniture design with as little modification as possible. Since the handrail was constructed with a slight pitch or slant to accommodate the center span arch of the bridge, some of our furniture pieces contain more of a visual slant to them than others. With this slant most evident on those sections removed from closest to the center span of the bridge, it helps identify the general location in which the handrail resided for 56 years.

International Orange – To protect the steel from further fatigue and rusting, each piece of furniture comes finished in the original color of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – International Orange. Chosen by Irving Morrow, the color was specially mixed to blend in with the environment surrounding the Golden Gate, as opposed to the traditional Battleship Gray of most bridges.

Numbered – Each furniture design is part of a limited edition production run. An identification plate is discreetly mounted on the inside web of each piece of furniture. Engraved on this brass plate is the production number, title of the piece, and year of production.

Letter of Authenticity – In order to guarantee the genuineness of the product, each piece of furniture comes with a Letter of Authenticity that has been authorized and signed by the furniture designer.

Limited Supply – Product supply is limited and available on a first come / first serve basis. Only a portion of the Golden Gate Bridge’s original handrail was removed in 1993. Therefore, once the supply is exhausted, furniture by the Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co. will no longer be available.

In the 1930’s hot rivets were the standard in construction, and rivet tradesmen were plentiful. However, in the years since then, it was found that the hot rivets were too permanent and they did not allow the flexibility of easy replacement and repairs. Due to this, hot riveting has become a lost art. The use of nuts and bolts has made replacements and repairs quick and easy, as well as distinctly drawing a line between past and present. Today, as you walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, you can distinguish between recently replaced sections of handrail (hexagon nuts and bolts) and sections of original 1930’s handrail (round rivets) by simply looking at the construction of the steel.