Gordon and Jane Martz Walnut and Ceramic Tile Inlay Bookends, circa 1960

Gordon and Jane Martz were prominent designers and creators of simple, elegant, handcrafted ceramic goods. Their vintage mid-century modern designs for table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers and pendants are daring but relaxed and make for versatile additions to any space.

Jane Martz’s grandmother established the family-owned American lampshades company Marshall Studios in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922. Jessie “Muz” Marshall produced hand-painted lampshades out of her home, then expanded to include lamp bases made of wood. The business later moved to Veedersburg. After studying at New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Gordon and Jane joined the company in the early 1950s and stepped in to run Marshall Studios after it had been managed by Jane’s parents. Gordon and Jane instilled the brand with fresh energy and new ideas. They introduced innovative modernist stoneware lamps, decorative accessories and more that became immediately popular with new homeowners of the era. Later, there was a return to lamp bases made solely of wood, and floor lamps, bookends and tables with tile tops appeared in the company catalogs.

The Marshall Studios M101 lamp was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s “Good Design” exhibit in 1953, which also featured the work of other mid-century luminaries such as Jens Risom, Paul McCobb, George Nelson and more. 

Gordon and Jane explored color and texture at the company during the 1950s and ‘60s and continued the rich legacy of craftsmanship for which Marshall Studios had become known. The manufacturer secured government contracts and their works were featured in Interiors magazine. Etchings and other decoration continued to be done by hand, and Jane eventually also took an interest in the fabric and textiles used to hand-cover the paper shades, producing a complementary line of hand-woven pillows and other goods.

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