Alabaster Totem 16

Allied Maker lighting designs are marked by the craft tradition — each elegant pendant, sconce and ceiling light is designed by Allied founder Ryden Rizzo. The parts are made by hand in the company's studio on the North Shore of Long Island, and Allied then partners with local makers to bring their offerings to market.

Allied Maker was established in 2012 as an independent study project while Rizzo was attending the Parsons School of Design. Working out of his parents’ garage on Long Island, Rizzo created cutlery, kitchen utensils and lighting fixtures. In a way, he was following in the footsteps of his father — a jewelry designer — and sought to build things with his hands.

Rizzo taught himself metalworking and woodworking, and began to create furnishings and post them to his project’s website. When a lighting fixture he’d crafted in brass became popular online, it quickly became apparent that Rizzo could open a design and manufacturing studio.

"The freedom to be able to iterate and come up with new ideas has always been at the heart of it, and that’s why Allied Maker has become so successful," Rizzo told Business of Home.

Allied’s inaugural design client was Dorothee Meilichzon of Chzon Agency, a successful French firm that specializes in hospitality properties, and the studio had its first showing at New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair in 2015. Rizzo's wife Lanette eventually came on board as the creative director.

In 2018, Allied introduced a new lighting collection characterized by sharply geometric designs. The line, which is emblematic of the studio’s focus on quality materials and superior craftsmanship, includes four versatile fixtures — the Grand Aperture 4, Tri Cone, Contour Wall Lamp 22 and Concentric 15. There are handmade glass globe diffusers, an integration of domestic hardwoods such as walnut and white oak, and bodies of bent metal. Allied launched the collection at what was then the Architectural Digest Design Show. Also in 2018, in collaboration with architect Marshall Shuster, the company opened its first showroom in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.

Today Allied Maker’s clients include high-end New York City restaurants, and the studio’s quietly sophisticated fixtures can even be found in Gwyneth Paltrow's home in Montecito, California.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Allied Maker lighting and decorative objects.

Whether burnished or lacquered, antique, new and vintage brass furniture can elevate a room.

From traditional spaces that use brass as an accent — by way of brass dining chairs or brass pendant lights — to contemporary rooms that embrace bold brass decor, there are many ways to incorporate the golden-hued metal.

“I find mixed metals to be a very updated approach, as opposed to the old days, when it was all shiny brass of dulled-out silver tones,” says interior designer Drew McGukin. “I especially love working with brass and blackened steel for added warmth and tonality. To me, aged brass is complementary across many design styles and can trend contemporary or traditional when pushed either way.”

He proves his point in a San Francisco entryway, where a Lindsey Adelman light fixture hangs above a limited-edition table and stools by Kelly Wearstler — also an enthusiast of juxtapositions — all providing bronze accents. The walls were hand-painted by artist Caroline Lizarraga and the ombré stair runner is by DMc.

West Coast designer Catherine Kwong chose a sleek brass and lacquered-parchment credenza by Scala Luxury to fit this San Francisco apartment. “The design of this sideboard is reminiscent of work by French modernist Jean Prouvé. The brass font imbues the space with warmth and the round ‘portholes’ provide an arresting geometric element.”

Find antique, new and vintage brass tables, case pieces and other furnishings now on 1stDibs.

Natural specimens turn things found in nature, such as rocks, crystals and timber, into art. Sometimes these specimens are hand-carved into sculptures. Other times, antique, new and vintage natural specimens themselves are best displayed in their most untouched state. These pieces range from Victorian-era objects to modern-day designs and include everything from sculptures made from animal horns to works in wood, either as sculptures or merely imposing and provocative chunks of driftwood.

Natural specimens serve as compelling decor in any collection or home. Just as any curious decorative object, such as an ancient scientific instrument or taxidermy mount, will draw attention to your carefully curated home library or mantel, natural specimens can spark interesting discussions about life and art. Whether it’s a piece of ancient pottery formed from natural clay, plants sculpted from metal, sculptures of animals or antique stone, they grant a window into all of nature’s wonders.

Natural specimen sculptures can complement many aesthetics. A rare geode makes a stunning centerpiece in a study or living room. Crystals and rock crystal spheres carved in the 1970s add a sense of etherealness and quiet beauty to any space.

Whatever your taste, the selection of antique, new and vintage natural specimens on 1stDibs includes precisely the right piece for your space.