Vintage Pair of Italian Alabaster Floor Lamps by Marbro Lamp Co.
View Similar Items
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11
Vintage Pair of Italian Alabaster Floor Lamps by Marbro Lamp Co.
About the Item
They also had a sizable business in decorative accessories such as tables, and a lot of animal figurines. There were quite a few dog figurines that were life size. One dog figurine was a life size Great Dane purchased by the actor Jack Webb (Dragnet). There were quite a few celebrities that came in to their shop. One actress who shopped there repeatedly was Deborah Shelton who at the time played the part of “Mandy” on Dallas (remember J.R.).
Marbro sold their products mainly through interior designers and a few upscale furniture stores. You would not find a Marbro product in a chain furniture store or discount store. Most of the products were built to order, and a typical order from a designer or retailer took between 75 and 90 days to complete.
Most of the components that made up the lamp bodies (ceramic, brass etc) were purchased from small companies around the world (see porcelain figure from Italy at top of page). In the later years almost all of the brass came from India. For the most part, none of the bodies were made on site. Marbro was well-known for importing a variety of unique lighting from all over the world. Italy was the source for alabaster, Japan and China for Porcelain, Brass in India and Crystal from Germany and France. Lamps would also be made from sculptures that customers brought in to the shop.
Once the lamp bodies arrived, a group of Marbro employees would make the wood bases, spin the metal caps, make the shades, and do the painting and tinting. With the help of about 20-40 other true world class artisans, metal workers, finishers and hand made shade makers, they produced lamps and shades that are some of last of their kind of art. For example, Marbro brass was never just plain brass. It was stained with a tinting that was homemade and kept secret by the company (reminiscent of Handel Lamp Co.). There were quite a few of these preparations all kept in one of those little metal boxes on a 3×5″ file card just like a recipe. It was truly unique.
Many of the lamp bodies that were bought were not exactly matched as pairs. Sometimes 10-20 crystal vases would have to be sorted through to get 2 of the exact same height so that if the lamps were purchased as a pair, they would match. All of the shades were made by hand by a group of women on the second floor of the building with very little automation.
The lamps were considered high style fine lamps for the times and presently. Brass and porcelain lamps would wholesale for $300 – $3,000 while crystal and bronze lamps were $2,000 – $4,000.
The manufacturing plant was closed in Los Angeles in December 1990 and the inventory and equipment were moved to La Barge Mirrors in Holland, MI. At the time La Barge Mirrors was a Masco Corp subsidiary. Some time later, the Marbro product line was discontinued. Eventually, Masco sold most of their home furnishings manufacturing holdings.
Marbro assembled a very talented, experienced and most unique group of artists and craftsmen and many of their fine lamps exhibit a certain distinctive style. Most of the employees were in their 50s and older. There were quite a few employees in their late 60s and 70s. Today their lamps are very collectible and sought after especially by knowledgeable collectors who are familiar with the company’s lamps and history.
It is obvious from the company’s careful selection of art objects and their unique proprietary methods of lamp making that their goal was to design beautiful unique and very high quality lamps. Their success is obvious from the very fine collectible Marbro lamps that are still sought after today.
- Dimensions:Height: 65 in (165.1 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)Depth: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:mid 20th century
- Condition:Original. Please refer to detail photos. No shades.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: dd1261stDibs: U11060382433197
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1992
1stDibs seller since 2006
1,326 sales on 1stDibs
More From This SellerView All
- Vintage Italian Gilded Metal, Organic Relief Bamboo-Form Floor LampLocated in Chicago, ILVintage Midcentury Italian, gilded metal bamboo-form, 3-light Floor Lamp with original matching metal shades. The gilding of the metal was executed in a beautiful aged dark bronze co...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsMetal
$1,898 Sale Price44% Off - Vintage French Brass and Onyx Floor Lamp, circa 1930sLocated in Chicago, ILFrench Brass Floor Lamp, complete with an Onyx stone drinks table. Yes, the French do think of everything, especially when it comes to their espresso...Category
Vintage 1930s French Floor Lamps
MaterialsOnyx, Brass
$950 Sale Price60% Off - Alabaster Hand-Carved LampLocated in Chicago, ILBeautiful Hand-Carved Alabaster Lamp imported from France and does require rewiring for the US. The stone, Alabaster comes in several colors, although they then to be mostly white, y...Category
Vintage 1950s Egyptian Table Lamps
MaterialsAlabaster
$2,350 - French Faux Bois Lantern or Bird Feeder with Built-in Planter All OriginalLocated in Chicago, ILFrench Faux Bois Lantern or possible bird feeder that was probably made in the 1950s and conveniently, they actually left a hole inside the structure...Category
Vintage 1950s French Country Floor Lamps
MaterialsConcrete
$1,890 Sale Price55% Off - Pair of Italian Iron Winged Maidens Urns Fitted as Table Lamps Very Well MadeLocated in Chicago, ILRemarkable pair of Italian Iron Urns with intricate details cleverly fitted as a stunning pair of Table Lamps. Perfect in scale for large rooms, this pair have winged maidens...Category
Vintage 1910s Italian Table Lamps
MaterialsIron
$1,980 Sale Price / set58% Off - Pair of English Mahogany Table Lamps RestoredLocated in Chicago, ILStunning English mahogany table legs retrofitted and newly wired as fantastic table lamps. These fabulous lamps are remarkable in appearance, easil...Category
Vintage 1950s English Table Lamps
MaterialsMahogany
$1,119 Sale Price29% Off
You May Also Like
- Pair of Italian Rococo Alabaster Floor TorchieresLocated in New York, NYPair of Italian Rococo style (dated 1932) white alabaster 9 light floor torchiere with a carved urn with handles supporting 8 gilt carved arms all moun...Category
20th Century Italian Art Deco Candle Holders
MaterialsAlabaster, Gold Leaf
$125,000 / set - Vintage Seguso Murano Italian Art Glass Column Floor Lamp for MarbroBy The Marbro Lamp CompanyLocated in LOS ANGELES, CARare vintage murano glass column floor lamp made by Seguso in Italy for Marbro. The base is made of sectioned murano glass with a modern neocla...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsGlass
- 1950’s Alabaster Column Vintage Floor LampBy Galleria ColombariLocated in London, LambethSuperb unusual column floor lamp light up any corner.Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsAlabaster
- Pair of Vintage Italian Chain Link Floor LampsLocated in Chicago, ILA bold and striking pair of mid-20th century Italian chain link floor lamps with coiled link bases and jute string shades. Lamps will be newly wired to ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Industrial Floor Lamps
MaterialsIron
$7,200 / set - Pair of Oversized Vintage Italian Floor Lamps, c. 1960'sLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of oversized vintage Italian floor lamps with frosted glossy off-white Murano glass globes. Mounted on an unlacquered solid brass base. Made in Italy, c. 1960s. Dimensions: 19"H...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Massive Alabaster Lamp by Marbro CoBy The Marbro Lamp CompanyLocated in New York, NYUnusual; and extra-large carved alabaster lamp by Marbro, in original and working condition. This lamp has carved animal head details, as well as sw...Category
Vintage 1960s American Neoclassical Revival Table Lamps
MaterialsAlabaster
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Br Top Lamp
Pair Small Floor Lamps
Pair Italian Marbro Lamps
Vintage 50s Lamp Shades
Floor Vase Pair
Pair Of Floor Vases
Card File
Vintage Chinese Lamp Pair
Antique Small Pair Lamps
Pair Of Small Antique Lamps
Antique Lamp Ceramic France
Antique French Ceramic Lamps
Floor Lamps Los Angeles
Pair Of Animal Lamps
Vintage Lamps India
Marbro Ceramic Lamp
Pair Of Table Lamps Los Angeles
Vintage Alabaster Lamps